PLUIË | Rain
Switzerland
Urban and peri urban contexts
Activities implemented in public spaces, schools, cultural venues, and community settings
Rain in the City
Ongoing
Landscape & Rainfall Context
Urban areas are increasingly exposed to intense rainfall, surface runoff, flooding, heat islands, and water pollution. At the same time, rainwater is often treated as waste and rapidly evacuated through underground pipes, disconnecting cities from natural water cycles. Climate adaptation requires not only technical solutions but also a shared culture of rainwater management among citizens, planners, decision makers, and professionals.
Project Focus
Interactive awareness raising activities centered on rainwater | Creative and artistic workshops combining art, science, and culture | Urban walks and immersive experiences exploring the water cycle | Participatory tools to understand infiltration, runoff, and soil functions | Educational activities adapted to children, youth, and adults | Public engagement formats for schools, municipalities, companies, and cultural institutions
Key Solutions Implemented
Rainwater harvesting | watershed management | spring rehabilitation | retention ponds | reforestation | agroecological practices | 3D participatory and risk mapping | local governance support
Impact snapshot / Direct beneficiaries
Dozens
of awareness raising activities delivered in Switzerland
Hundreds
of participants including children, families, educators, professionals, and citizens
Increased
understanding of rainwater as a resource rather than waste
Strengthened
public awareness of urban water challenges, climate adaptation, and nature based solutions
All
revenues generated contribute to financing IRHA development projects in the Global South
Core Principles
Make cities transparent for water by allowing rainwater to infiltrate, circulate, and support life | Preserve soil infiltration capacity in urbanized areas | Maintain and enhance vegetation cover through access to water | Reduce runoff by managing rainwater where it falls | Disconnect rainwater from sewage systems and promote reuse | Move beyond all pipes approaches toward integrated urban water strategies
Local implementation partners
Municipalities and local authorities | Schools and educational institutions | Cultural centers, libraries, and community spaces | Artists, educators, and facilitators trained by IRHA
Donors and supporters
Implemented through service based activities and partnerships | Supported by local institutions and event partners
Sustainable Development Goals
Rain for WASH
Urban rainwater & green infrastructure
Mitigation + adaptation at the grassroots level
Networks and global-local cooperation
PDF IRHA_Catalogue_PLUIE