Groundwater Risk Management for Growth and Development
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Smith School of Enterprise and the Env
Abstract
Improved understanding of groundwater risks and institutional responses against competing growth and development goals is central to accelerating and sustaining Africa's development. Africa's groundwater systems are a critical but poorly understood socio-ecological system. Explosive urban growth, irrigated agricultural expansion, industrial pollution, untapped mineral wealth, rural neglect and environmental risks often converge to increase the complexity and urgency of governance challenges across Africa's groundwater systems. These Africa-wide opportunities and trade-offs are reflected in Kenya where the government's unifying Vision 2030 aims to double the irrigated agricultural area whilst simultaneously promoting the growth of high-value mineral resources. Institutional capacity to govern interactions between economic activities, water resource demands and poverty outcomes are currently constrained by insufficient knowledge and lack of effective management tools. The overarching project aim is to design, test and transfer a novel, interdisciplinary and replicable Groundwater Risk Management tool to improve governance transformations to balance economic growth, groundwater sustainability and human development trade-offs.
The project will make four major contributions to support interdisciplinary science and governance of managing groundwater risks for growth and development in Africa:
a) An automated, daily monitoring network for shallow groundwater levels - the first system of its kind in the world and replicable at scale.
b) A new Groundwater Risk Management Tool which is transferable and sustainable in Africa.
c) New epidemiological insights into the health impacts of faulty or intermittent water supplies.
d) Improved theory and evidence of groundwater governance and poverty pathways.
The project will make four major contributions to support interdisciplinary science and governance of managing groundwater risks for growth and development in Africa:
a) An automated, daily monitoring network for shallow groundwater levels - the first system of its kind in the world and replicable at scale.
b) A new Groundwater Risk Management Tool which is transferable and sustainable in Africa.
c) New epidemiological insights into the health impacts of faulty or intermittent water supplies.
d) Improved theory and evidence of groundwater governance and poverty pathways.
Planned Impact
Intended beneficiaries encompass stakeholders from government, enterprise, communities, particularly the poor, women and girls, and the international research and practitioner communities.
a) Kenya
i) Vulnerable rural water users - in the study area there are at least 60,000 rural water users served by the handpump maintenance project (ESRC). The project has three staff including two mechanics who liaise with the communities on a daily and positive basis. Given County Government support at the Ministerial level (Dr Chiguzo) we anticipate and have discussed uptake to all County handpumps (c.600-800) which would at a minimum double the total beneficiaries.
ii) Local water governance - the Water Resources User Association is a key beneficiary institution with linkages to all other WRUAs in Kenya. The project has established working relationships with District Officers (overall, water, health), chiefs, elders, school head teachers, Msambweni hospital and clinics. All are highly supportive of the project including the new County Governor who mentioned the project in his first anniversary address.
iii) Government - the Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) has indicated the significance, support and scalability of the project in its letter of support. The Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB, responsible for rural and urban water services) works with Oxford/RFL in existing grants and will continue to translate results into national policy. Ministry of Water and Irrigation are also informed of the work. Prof Olago was former President of the Kenyan Geological Society and remains an active member.
iv) Enterprise - Base Titanium Ltd. and KISCOL have indicated their support through data sharing and collaboration. A major project workshop in Nairobi in Year two will convene major enterprises reliant on groundwater from oil and gas, mining and irrigation sectors.
iv) National and International research institutes - led by JKUAT and University of Nairobi the research will benefit the national research community in events and networking through their respective centres, WARREC and ICCA. Further, the team has established and deep relationships with the UN (UNICEF, UNDP), water-focused donors (SIDA, GIZ, DGIS) and the Water and Sanitation Program of the World Bank.
b) International
i) Oxford and UPC will mobilise global science and policy networks through senior staff (Edmunds, Bradley, Hope, Custodio, Carrera). These include IAH, UNESCO-GWADI, UNICEF-WASHnet (global), RWSN, World Bank-WSP, UKGS, etc.
ii) UPGro Knowledge Broker activities, outreach and events will be developed and build on established relationships with RWSN through Hope, which currently includes webinars, D-groups and events linked to his research group.
iii) Enterprise partnerships and collaboration will build on Dr Hope's role in the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment. He co-leads the Sharing Resource Prosperity programme with Dr McElroy which has a global extractive industry network, including the International Congress of Mining and Minerals led by Ross Hamilton. This work links to DFID's Africa Extractives Adviser, Grundel Holger, who is aware of the Kwale research following a meeting with Dr Hope in February 2014. More widely, Dr Hope is actively engaged with Diageo, SABMiller and the Coca Cola company, who have major African operations relying on groundwater use.
a) Kenya
i) Vulnerable rural water users - in the study area there are at least 60,000 rural water users served by the handpump maintenance project (ESRC). The project has three staff including two mechanics who liaise with the communities on a daily and positive basis. Given County Government support at the Ministerial level (Dr Chiguzo) we anticipate and have discussed uptake to all County handpumps (c.600-800) which would at a minimum double the total beneficiaries.
ii) Local water governance - the Water Resources User Association is a key beneficiary institution with linkages to all other WRUAs in Kenya. The project has established working relationships with District Officers (overall, water, health), chiefs, elders, school head teachers, Msambweni hospital and clinics. All are highly supportive of the project including the new County Governor who mentioned the project in his first anniversary address.
iii) Government - the Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) has indicated the significance, support and scalability of the project in its letter of support. The Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB, responsible for rural and urban water services) works with Oxford/RFL in existing grants and will continue to translate results into national policy. Ministry of Water and Irrigation are also informed of the work. Prof Olago was former President of the Kenyan Geological Society and remains an active member.
iv) Enterprise - Base Titanium Ltd. and KISCOL have indicated their support through data sharing and collaboration. A major project workshop in Nairobi in Year two will convene major enterprises reliant on groundwater from oil and gas, mining and irrigation sectors.
iv) National and International research institutes - led by JKUAT and University of Nairobi the research will benefit the national research community in events and networking through their respective centres, WARREC and ICCA. Further, the team has established and deep relationships with the UN (UNICEF, UNDP), water-focused donors (SIDA, GIZ, DGIS) and the Water and Sanitation Program of the World Bank.
b) International
i) Oxford and UPC will mobilise global science and policy networks through senior staff (Edmunds, Bradley, Hope, Custodio, Carrera). These include IAH, UNESCO-GWADI, UNICEF-WASHnet (global), RWSN, World Bank-WSP, UKGS, etc.
ii) UPGro Knowledge Broker activities, outreach and events will be developed and build on established relationships with RWSN through Hope, which currently includes webinars, D-groups and events linked to his research group.
iii) Enterprise partnerships and collaboration will build on Dr Hope's role in the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment. He co-leads the Sharing Resource Prosperity programme with Dr McElroy which has a global extractive industry network, including the International Congress of Mining and Minerals led by Ross Hamilton. This work links to DFID's Africa Extractives Adviser, Grundel Holger, who is aware of the Kwale research following a meeting with Dr Hope in February 2014. More widely, Dr Hope is actively engaged with Diageo, SABMiller and the Coca Cola company, who have major African operations relying on groundwater use.
Publications
Wara C
(2019)
Development of River Rating Curves for Simple to Complex Hydraulic Structure Based on Calibrated HEC-RAS Hydraulic Model, in Kwale, Coastal Kenya
in Journal of Water Resource and Protection
Thomson P
(2019)
Rainfall and groundwater use in rural Kenya.
in The Science of the total environment
Thomson P
(2020)
Remote monitoring of rural water systems: A pathway to improved performance and sustainability?
in WIREs Water
Thomson P
(2016)
Performance-oriented Monitoring for the Water SDG - Challenges, Tensions and Opportunities
in Aquatic Procedia
Thomas E
(2020)
Reducing drought emergencies in the Horn of Africa.
in The Science of the total environment
Sharma P
(2019)
Combining Multi-Modal Statistics for Welfare Prediction Using Deep Learning
in Sustainability
School Of Geography And The Environment
(2018)
The Water Module
Ramos N
(2020)
Evidence of groundwater vulnerability to climate variability and economic growth in coastal Kenya
in Journal of Hydrology
| Description | The work set out to understand groundwater and poverty linkages in coastal Kenya where commercial water use for agriculture and mining had increased significantly. The international team of researchers from Kenya, Spain and the UK, with partners from national and county government and Base Titanium Ltd.(mining company), contributed new knowledge on the location and availability of groundwater to provide a stronger evidence base for more sustainable water resource use for government and other stakeholders. The systems' analysis of the groundwater resource revealed for the first time ancient river beds with major sources of groundwater not known to relevant government agencies. The information is now allowing policy and practice to consider how these water resources can benefit strategies for economic growth and poverty reduction in the county. More generally, it revealed individual exploration of groundwater by industry and government failed to understand the resource potential and limits through a regional analysis of both the surface and groundwater resources. The findings have implications for permissions to abstract water to support hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in industry with a lack of any scientific data on the sustainability of the groundwater resource for the future. In this case, the findings provide a case where well-managed groundwater management can support industry and growth, but this will not apply in all contexts. Work on the linkages between groundwater and poverty revealed that communities generally accessed the shallow groundwater resource, largely not used by industry. The shallow groundwater provides domestic and productive uses with patterns of usage influenced strongly by rainfall patterns. New data from smart handpumps provided quantified evidence of this relationship where high rainfall events led to decreased usage. Conversely, long dry spells show very high dependency and vulnerability if handpumps lifting the groundwater failed. A local maintenance company guided by the FundiFix model, developed by the Oxford research team, demonstrated faster repairs could unlock user payments for part of the service costs. Schools and communities have signed up progressively over the years to demonstrate the potential of the model to achieve improve social outcomes for tens of thousands of women, men and children. Wider welfare analysis identified this intervention was one four priority areas for communities along with improving access to secondary education, energy services and sanitation in the home.These findings have shaped the Government of Kenya's national Water Act to broaden policy and practice on managing and maintaining rural water supplies. |
| Exploitation Route | 1. Government permissions to industry for commercial groundwater abstraction should be first quantified by the resource availability. In areas of water resource scarcity or increasing demand from multiple users, ensuring the sequence of licencing water use follows an independent assessment of the resource base will promote sustainability and economic growth. Public awareness of these issues can be progressively increased including the successful pilot of water clubs in secondary schools to increase local understanding and knowledge. 2. Industry, like mining or irrigated agriculture, has increasing responsibilities for environmental sustainability. The boundary of responsibilities for industry will not always align with environmental, and particularly groundwater, systems. Local behaviour may lead to system failure without a regional approach. The investor community may be better mobilised and informed of these issues to promote and enforce improved industry behaviour. 3. Performance-based maintenance companies offer a new approach to progress to safe and reliable drinking water for rural people in Africa. Through advances in sensor technology and data analytics, institutional change can lead to direct benefits for rural water users, which can attract new sources of funding. This work has gained wider interest and engagement across Africa and merits further examination of why different institutional models work across different political, environmental and social contexts. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| URL | https://upgro.org/consortium/gro-for-good/ |
| Description | We would identify key uses of the findings as follows: 1. Multi-decadal analysis of rural payment behaviours and multi-year panel data on poverty profiles by the Gro for GooD project is providing evidence to inform new institutional and financial approaches for rural water service models beyond community management alone. Kenya's new Water Act, which came into force in September 2016, specifically recognises novel approaches to rural water provision (Article 94(3)), including private sector models with investment and financial plans for rural water services, marking an important shift from the exclusive emphasis on community management of water supply in Kenya. Gro for GooD researchers have met with Kenyan civil servants, lawyers and policy-makers, sharing research findings over many years to inform Article 94. It is estimated around one million poor rural Kenyans will progressively benefit from uptake of this policy change. 2. A detailed geological model of the study area in Kwale County, Kenya which will be a published output of the Gro for GooD project, has been produced using modern geophysical techniques as well as traditional geological methods and a review of over 60 years of geological literature. One of the most interesting results from this aspect of the research is evidence of two palaeochannels (filled-in and buried river channels) running across the field area. The findings, based on geological surveys and Electrical Resistivity Tomography transects carried out by the University of Nairobi with the Kenyan Water Resources Authority, constitute a major step forward in understanding the geological controls on groundwater in the study area and strongly suggest that Kwale County has more plentiful groundwater resources than previously thought. The geological studies have been used as the basis of the groundwater flow and transport models developed by the Gro for GooD hydrologists at the Grupo de Hidrología Subterránea at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. These findings have also informed drafting of the Kwale County Water Supply Development Master Plan (see 4.1 below). 3. School Water Clubs have been established at three secondary schools in Kwale County through an outreach programme offered by the Gro for GooD project and local partners including the BASE Titanium mine. Over 100 students have been involved so far (64 girls and 40 boys). Drawing inspiration from local fieldtrips, the students are working on group projects that they will present at an event later this year. Gro for GooD researchers have been supporting the clubs throughout their projects. As the activities and projects continue, a resource package is being developed to capture ideas and learning and the goal is to develop partnerships and networks for wider dissemination of the resource in Kenya. Club members are keen to raise awareness of water issues at school. For example, following their water testing activity, Leila Ismail, the club secretary from Shimba Hills School, reported that the Water Club recommends that the school administration should organise for water to be filtered before use and that the school kitchen should have better hygiene to reduce water contamination. Students in the club at Kingwede Girls School are motivated to bring their knowledge back home - read more about this club at: https://kingwedemaji.wordpress.com/ 4. The Gro for GooD project is establishing itself as an information resource and key partner on water supply issues at the county, national and international level. Items to evidence this include: 4.1 Through a data-sharing agreement with Egis Eau, a French consultancy firm, Gro for GooD contributed hydrogeological and geophysical data and expertise towards the Kwale County Water Supply Master Plan, part of Kenya Water Security and Climate Resilience Program (Kenyan Government/World Bank). The County Government is planning to supplement municipal water supplies using the high-yielding paleochannels identified during the Gro for GooD project. The County Government has employed one of the Gro for GooD's Kenyan ECRs to support this work. http://projects.worldbank.org/P145559/?lang=en&tab=overview 4.2 Gro for GooD researchers and project staff participated in WWF Water Stakeholder Platform (Nov 2016) which brought together 8 local stakeholder organisations in Kwale County to create common understanding on water management issues in Kwale and the Mkurumudzi River catchment in particular. This led to Gro for GooD researchers being asked to provide training to local WWF staff in livelihoods survey methodology to measure WWF project impacts in Kwale County. 4.3 Kenya's national Water Resource Authority mentions Gro for GooD (UPGro) as one of WRMA's projects in the National Performance Report 5 for FY2015/2016 indicating the significance of this work at the national level. https://www.wra.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/WRMA_Performance_Report_5.pdf 4.4. Gro for GooD has been part of the 'Improving Sustainable Groundwater Exploration with Amended Geophysics' (ISGEAG) project (partners: Via Water, Aqua for All, Acacia Water B.V., AMREF Kenya, SamSamWater, KenGen) . The ISGEAG project aims to produce better interpreted, consistent and well-founded assessment of geophysical survey results, leading to better drilling results and a more sustainable abstraction of groundwater in Kwale County and elsewhere in Kenya. Gro for GooD supported the ISGEAG project's training week that took place in Kwale County in March 2018, which was attended by Gro for GooD ECRs. 4.5 The REACH programme (DFID-funded global research programme improving water security for the poor, also led by Rob Hope) is investigating whether it can take forward the shallow aquifer prediction work being done as part of the Gro for GooD programme in REACH observatories elsewhere in Kenya, and in Ethiopia and Bangladesh. REACH is also adapting the environmental monitoring and socio-economic survey methodology developed by the Gro for GooD project in REACH observatories 4.6 Three private meetings with the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Water and Sanitation have been held at which the project team briefed on key findings and implications from the Gro for GooD research. This includes requested input into the development of a new National Water Policy which is in process (March 2019). 4.7 Following a successful one-day workshop with WRA, presenting the geological model and groundwater flow model for the study area, the project team is successfully delivered a week-long training course in June 2019 at the request of WRA management. The UPC team will train staff members from WRA (from both the national and local offices) and Kwale County Government on hydrological modelling, using the Kwale model developed during the Gro of Good project as an example. This workshop will also be the mechanism for handing the model over to WRA, which will support WRA in fulfilling its mandate to undertake groundwater monitoring and resource management. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Other |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Contribution to Government of Kenya's Water Policy reforms |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | Since 2016, the Gro for GooD team have had an active role in contributing to national water policy reform. This is mainly attributed to the process of decentralisation and the requirement to determine new responsibilities and approaches to managing water resources, including groundwater, at different political and geographic areas. This has include some of our institutional and social work informing a more inclusive approach to managing rural water services. This is an ongoing process with requests from the national government to advise on the draft of National Water Policy and Water Services Regulation. With the University of Nairobi, JKUAT and Rural Focus Ltd., the team has significant and trusted local expertise where senior collaborators have worked with the government over decades. As part of wider collaboration under the REACH programme, the Water Minister (Cabinet Secretary) will be in Oxford in March 2019 with staff from UPGRo to discuss some of this work allowing the legacy and impact of UPGRo to continue and translate into further impacts through long term partnerships. |
| Description | "Predicting failures for zero handpump time" EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) Technology Fund |
| Amount | £78,185 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/R511742/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2021 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | Drinking water choices for sustainable development: How do rural communities select their provision of water services? |
| Amount | £39,829 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | KCD00141-LD03.01 |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Department | Global Challenges Research Fund |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2019 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | IAA/HEIF ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (University of Oxford) KE Dialogues |
| Amount | £2,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 09/2020 |
| Description | REACH - Improving Water Security for the Poor |
| Amount | £15,000,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | GB-1-201880 |
| Organisation | Government of the UK |
| Department | Department for International Development (DfID) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2015 |
| End | 04/2024 |
| Description | Smart Handpumps Crowd-funding campaign with matched funding from GCRF - https://oxreach.hubbub.net/p/Smartpumps/updates/ |
| Amount | £70,600 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Department | Global Challenges Research Fund |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2019 |
| End | 07/2020 |
| Description | Smart Handpumps: plug-and-play for wider impact |
| Amount | £46,800 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 0007736 |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Department | Global Challenges Research Fund |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 07/2020 |
| Description | USAID Sustainable Wash Systems |
| Amount | $15,300,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | United States Agency for International Development |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 08/2017 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Title | Geology field notes with coordinates in Kwale County Kenya |
| Description | Geological observations during field walks, with coordinates, photographs and descriptions of rocks/geological materials and features at the various stops. Kwale County, Kenya. This dataset is under embargo to allow publication but will be released in 2019. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This dataset is an output of the geological/geophysical research undertaken as part of the Gro for GooD project. The study has identified two probable palaeochannels (ancient filled-in river channels that creating high-yielding aquifers) running NW-SE across the field area. These constitute potential new and significant groundwater resources in the Msambweni area that could provide sustainable municipal water supplies. The Gro for GooD project shared data and findings with the lead consultant on the Kwale County Water Supply Master Plan (part of Kenya's Water Security and Climate Resilience Program run by the Kenyan Government and the World Bank) and has communicated directly with the Kwale County Government on the further investigation and development of this resource. |
| URL | https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveryMetadata/13607374.html |
| Title | Gro for GooD ERT Data, Kwale County, Kenya |
| Description | Results of Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) conducted in Kwale County, Kenya December 2015 and June 2016 by University of Nairobi and Water Resources Management Authority as part of the Gro for GooD project (https://upgro.org/consortium/gro-for-good/) to characterize the aquifers in the study area. There were eight transects of length 1.2 to 6km, running W-E and NNE-SSW parallel to coastline. ERT data was analysed using RES2D inversion software. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This dataset is an output of the geological/geophysical research undertaken as part of the Gro for GooD project. The study has identified two probable palaeochannels (ancient filled-in river channels that creating high-yielding aquifers) running NW-SE across the field area. These constitute potential new and significant groundwater resources in the Msambweni area that could provide sustainable municipal water supplies. The Gro for GooD project shared data and findings with the lead consultant on the Kwale County Water Supply Master Plan (part of Kenya's Water Security and Climate Resilience Program run by the Kenyan Government and the World Bank) and has communicated directly with the Kwale County Government on the further investigation and development of this resource. |
| URL | https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveryMetadata/13607376.html |
| Title | Gro for GooD VES Data, Kwale County, Kenya |
| Description | Results of Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) study conducted in Kwale County, Kenya in July and August 2017 by University of Nairobi and Water Resources Management Authority as part of the Gro for GooD project (https://upgro.org/consortium/gro-for-good/) to determine the existence of deeper aquifers. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This dataset is an output of the geological/geophysical research undertaken as part of the Gro for GooD project. The study has identified two probable palaeochannels (ancient filled-in river channels that creating high-yielding aquifers) running NW-SE across the field area. These constitute potential new and significant groundwater resources in the Msambweni area that could provide sustainable municipal water supplies. The Gro for GooD project shared data and findings with the lead consultant on the Kwale County Water Supply Master Plan (part of Kenya's Water Security and Climate Resilience Program run by the Kenyan Government and the World Bank) and has communicated directly with the Kwale County Government on the further investigation and development of this resource. |
| URL | https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveryMetadata/13607375.html |
| Title | Gro for GooD datasets |
| Description | Climate, water quality, groundwater level and groundwater abstraction data used to construct and run a groundwater model of Kwale County aquifer system, Kenya, plus the model itself. Datasets can be viewed by searching for "NE/M008894/1" on this website: |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Training in use of groundwater models was provided to representatives of the Water Resources Authority in Kenya. The model files have been provided to a the Institute of Life Sciences (Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy) to contribute to a survey of available datasets on groundwater data management, analysis and numerical modelling in the African continent, within the project "Hydrological/hydrogeological modelling, monitoring and spatial analysis of datasets for superficial water and groundwater management in agro-ecosystems with reference to the African continent". |
| URL | https://webapps.bgs.ac.uk/services/ngdc/accessions/index.html?_ga=2.12855863.1601140324.1614275681-4... |
| Title | Longitudinal panel study data on household welfare, water resource management and governance in Kenya 2013-2016 |
| Description | This dataset comprises of a longitudinal panel study monitoring socio-economic status and management of household water resources in Kwale County Kenya from 2013 to 2016. A sample of 531 handpump locations was used as a sampling frame for three rounds of household surveys in 2013/14 (November-January), 2015 (March-May) and 2016 (September-November). GSM-enabled transmitters (Thomson et al. 2012) were installed on 300 operational handpumps to provide daily usage data. The survey generated a comprehensive dataset capturing information on a) demographic characteristics, b) socio-economic status of the household, c) household health status, d) main and secondary household water sources, e) waterpoint management, f) water payment, g) water resources management as well as h) governance and political engagement for each household. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | ************ |
| URL | http://reshare.ukdataservice.ac.uk/853667/ |
| Description | A series of interviews with Early Career researchers from the Gro for GooD project, published on the UPGro website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A series of interviews with Early Career researchers from the Gro for GooD project, published on the UPGro website |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://upgro.org/category/final-report/output-type/interview-article/ |
| Description | Article in Sunday Nation (Kenya) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Article in Kenya's Sunday Nation entitled To get clean water for all, draw on the 3 streams of finance, groundwork, climate featuring interview with Johanna Koehler. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Article in The Conservation on Groundwater supplies on Kenya's coast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Article in The Conversation: Groundwater supplies on Kenya's coast must be managed for people and industry by Nuria Ferrer |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/groundwater-supplies-on-kenyas-coast-must-be-managed-for-people-and-indu... |
| Description | BBC South Today - Short spot on challenges of rural water supply in Kenya |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A short spot on BBC South Today news programme in the UK, on the challenges of rural water supply in Kenya. This featured Gro for GooD researchers Patrick Thomson and Jacob Katuva. The piece produced request for further information and offer of funding to the crowd-funding campaign described in the Further Funding section. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | BBC report on Aquifer depth monitoring techniques |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Media coverage: Aquifer depth monitoring techniques as documented in a recent paper (Colchester et al, 2017) have received media coverage on the BBC and have also been picked up by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-39077761 |
| Description | Blog on UPGro website - Improving groundwater management and welfare in Kenya |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Blog reporting on final stakeholder workshop Kwale County Kenya |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://upgro.org/2018/11/23/improving-groundwater-management-and-welfare-in-kenya/ |
| Description | Blog on UPGro website - Young scientist seeks to understand link between access to groundwater and poverty |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Young scientist seeks to understand link between access to groundwater and poverty - blog post based on interview with Gro for Good Early Career Researcher through UPGro programme. The target audience for this item was men and women aged 18 to 65+ in Kenya and the purpose was to reach and inspire young people in Africa about careers in science. The post was boosted on the RWSN Facebook page, receiving 702 clicks, 96 reactions, 5 comments and 12 shares on Facebook. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://upgro.org/2018/06/18/young-scientist-seeks-to-understand-link-between-access-to-groundwater-... |
| Description | Can more data reduce poverty? (Seminar, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Evening event showcasing Oxford's Smart Handpump research. Introduced new postgraduate students to the research group; showcased links and potential for increasing impact through collaboration with third sector organisations. 17 October 2018, 5-6pm Gottmann Room, School of Geography and the Environment, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY About the Smart Handpump Delivering reliable drinking water to millions of rural people in Africa and Asia is an elusive and enduring global goal. A systematic information deficit on the performance of and demand for infrastructure investments limits policy design and development outcomes Speakers Professor David Clifton, Department of Engineering Science (IBME) Heloise Greeff, Department of Engineering Science (IBME) Patrick Thomson, School of Geography and the Environment (SSEE) Professor Rob Hope, School of Geography and the Environment (SSEE) Discussant Tom Wildman, Oxfam (GB) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://reachwater.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018_handpump-event-poster.pdf |
| Description | Conference break-out session on Groundwater and poverty in Africa |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a break-out session on Groundwater and Poverty in Africa at the 2019 REACH conference on Water Security and Poverty (Keble College, Oxford. 27-29 March 2019): tHE conference convened leading practitioners and scientists in Oxford to discuss key results to date from REACH in Bangladesh, Kenya and Ethiopia, and continue to shape major academic, policy and practice debates around water security and poverty. Improving groundwater science is considered necessary to improve water security for the poor. Presentations and panel on: What is the current status of groundwater science in Africa? Is groundwater science being used effectively to reduce poverty? Is the relationship between groundwater and poverty adequately understood? Are there effective institutions and policies to translate science into meaningful action at the right level? We debate these questions from the perspectives of science, policy and practice with examples drawn from the work of REACH and UPGRo. Presenters/discussants: Dr Irene Guijt, Oxfam GB, Dr Seifu Kebede, University of Addis Ababa, Prof. Dan Olago, University of Nairobi, Florence Tanui, University of Nairobi, Sean Furey, SKAT. Chair: Dr Johanna Koehler, University of Oxford. Discussion and audience questions touched on the importance of collaboration between government and scientific institutions in developing countries, and of translating research for policy-makers and groundwater users. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.reach2019conference.org/conference-schedule |
| Description | Final stakeholder workshop for Groundwater Risk Management for Growth and Development in Kwale County, Kenya |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Groundwater and the poor are easily ignored. Hidden underground or of low political priority, the motivation and ability to improve groundwater management and welfare are often constrained by capacity, resources and governance structures. In much of Africa, the political calculus is changing as severe but unpredictable droughts, increasingly decentralised decision-making, and growing water competition are emphasizing the critical nature of groundwater as a buffer to drought, driver of economic growth, and vital resource for the poor and marginalised. On the south coast of Kenya, today's situation reflects regional trends with over half a billion dollars of new investments by mining, agriculture and urban development raising concerns about managing and allocating groundwater to protect the resource base and ensure the poor are not marginalised by more powerful interests. As part of the Unlocking the Potential of Groundwater for the Poor, the Groundwater Risk Management for Growth and Development project has convened researchers from the UK, Kenya and Spain with national and county Government of Kenyan partners and water-related industry. On 22nd November 2018, the Kwale County Government Water Minister, Hon. Hemed Mwabudzo, convened the final project workshop in Diani with over 30 stakeholder partners to discuss 15 recommendations for policy action across four thematic areas (See link to Full Policy Briefing). First, geological and geophysical analysis has identified two palaeo-channels (ancient, buried rivers) with significant groundwater resources to contribute to water-related growth and provision of water services to people. Results highlight wider UPGro findings of the critical nature of extreme rainfall disproportionately contributing to recharge replenishing aquifers after droughts. Protecting recharge zones is essential for sustainable management of this 'new' resource, and coupled with monitoring and enforcement, can avoid land use planning mistakes. Due to the proximity to the coast, unregulated groundwater abstraction may lead to saline intrusion which underlines the potential importance of the opportunity that Kenyan partners now have to continue the Environmental Monitoring Strategy developed and tested by the project. Second, the 2016-17 drought showed the exceptional and unpredictable stress that can suddenly be placed on groundwater resources. The hydrogeological model developed by the project provides the first system-level tool which can be used to support improved management and allocation of resources across multiple and competing groundwater users. This requires improved inter-agency cooperation between the Kwale County Government, Water Resources Authority, National Drought Management Authority, Kenya Meteorological Department and other stakeholders. Immediate steps to deepen priority, shallow dug-wells used by communities would reduce the risk of them drying up and avoid significant social costs, largely borne by poor people. Emergency supplies need to be planned and budgeted for, in the absence of adequate planning, which is a costly response but necessary as expensive vended water costs are absorbed by those least able to pay or least responsible for governance failures. Third, three rounds of socio-economic surveys were administered in 2014, 2015 and 2016 across 3,500 households across Lunga Lunga, Msambweni and Matuga sub-Counties. Analysis which models the most significant factors to improve household welfare identified four key areas for interventions: a) end open defecation, which occurs in around one third of households, b) increase education attainment from primary to at least secondary level, c) accelerate access to energy services, and d) improve rural water services. Fourth, linked to improving rural water services and drought resilience, the project has been part of a wider initiative to design and test a performance-based maintenance service for rural water supply infrastructure since 2014. The FundiFix model guarantees repairs to broken infrastructure in three days based on community, school or clinic payment contracts. Currently, 85 handpumps are registered serving 13,000 people, including 4,000 school children, with 99% of repairs completed in less than a day. A Water Services Maintenance Trust Fund was established in 2014 to address the funding gap and test a hybrid financial model blending user, investor and government support. To date, users are paying with private sector support from Base Titanium Limited and doTERRA. These two companies have long-term investments in the county in mining and agriculture and have been founding investors to incubate the model to avoid the traditional approach of building infrastructure with no maintenance provision wasting resources and leaving the poor no better off. Stakeholders from government, academia, communities, private sector and NGOs discussed these recommendations to identify priority actions against the feasibility of delivery in the next three years. The findings (see bubble figure below) identify the preferences from those stakeholders present. Action is already being taken by county government which has reviewed the project findings and is developing a plan to test the northern palaeo-channel resources in four locations. With a strong evidence base and clear policy messages, wider action is being planned to improve groundwater and welfare outcomes in Kwale County with lessons and methods under consideration nationally. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://upgro.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/kwale-county_groundwater-poverty_briefingnote_23nov2018_fi... |
| Description | Gro for GooD Final Stakeholder Workshop - Nov 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The final project workshop held in Kwale County brought 30 stakeholder partners together to discuss 15 recommendations for policy action across four thematic areas. The policy briefing can be viewed here: https://upgro.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/kwale-county_groundwater-poverty_briefingnote_23nov2018_final.pdf. Stakeholders from government, academia, communities, private sector and NGOs discussed these recommendations to identify priority actions against the feasibility of delivery in the next three years. Action is already being taken by county government which has reviewed the project findings and is developing a plan to test the northern palaeo-channel resources in four locations. With a strong evidence base and clear policy messages, wider action is being planned to improve groundwater and welfare outcomes in Kwale County with lessons and methods under consideration nationally. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://upgro.org/2018/11/23/improving-groundwater-management-and-welfare-in-kenya/ |
| Description | Gro for GooD Newsletter March 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Gro for GooD newsletter in English and Swahili shared with participants at stakeholder workshop and during liaison with community members on fieldwork and associated activities by local partner organisations. The purpose of the newsletter is to explain the scope and purpose of the project including research activities and local partnerships to the general public and to stakeholder organisations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Gro for GooD Stakeholder Workshop March 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On 3rd March 2017, the Gro for GooD project held a stakeholder workshop in Ukunda, Kwale County at which local organisations were provided with an update on the monitoring and modelling that will underpin the Groundwater Risk Management Tool, and how the research can contribute to county-wide planning for improved water supplies. Discussions focused on the role that local organisations could play in communicating outputs from the GWRM Tool to local communities and actions that might result from having enhanced information on risks to groundwater. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Gro for GooD newsletter - June 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The Gro for GooD newsletter is distributed in the project area to share monitoring information and research findings and provide an update on local engagement activities including the schools outreach work conducted in partnership with Base Titanium. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://upgro.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/upgronewsletterjune2018engprint.pdf |
| Description | Groundwater modelling training workshop - Nairobi, Kenya |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Building on the Gro for GooD project partnership with the Water Resources Authority, a groundwater modelling training workshop was held at the All African Churches Conference (Destmond Tutu Conference Centre), Westlands, Nairobi. The main objective of the workshop was to build capacity within WRA relating to the application of groundwater models for decision support, especially in coastal hydro-systems, using the example of the Msambweni Aquifer in Kwale. One of the key outputs from the Gro for Good research project is the Groundwater Model based on MODFLOW with ModelMuse for the Msambweni Aquifer. The training was conducted by professionals and experts from Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) who were part of UPGRO and Gro for GooD research project: Professors Albert Folch and Daniel Fernandez, and PhD student Núria Ferrer. Training participants included the Water Resources Authority (WRA) staff (both from head office and three regional offices), Kwale County Government, University of Nairobi and Rural Focus Ltd. The specific goals of the workshop were to understand groundwater modelling concepts; to grasp the MODFLOW modelling technique; to participate in groundwater data collection, processing and model set-up; to interpret the results and output of groundwater models; and to evaluate groundwater model performance with observed groundwater data. The main message transmitted was that numerical flow models require a large amount of groundwater data in order to produce an accurate representation of an aquifer. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Lecture in online hydrogeology applied to international cooperation projects for development and emergencies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Prof Albert Folch is using Gro for GooD in Kenyan as the focus for a lecture for the online course: "Hydrogeology applied to international development projects and emergencies". This course attracts post-graduates from Spain and Latin America and is the benchmark for the hydrogeology profession in the Spanish speaking world. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.fcihs.org/formacion/oferta-formativa-fcihs/cursos-de-formacion-continua-on-line/curso-hi... |
| Description | Participation in Kenya Water Week - 21-25th November 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The inaugural Kenya Water Week was held 21-25th November 2016 in Nairobi under the theme 'From Aid to Trade: Enhancing Business Partnerships and Innovation for Sustainable Water and Sanitation provision in Africa' in which various water resource and water supply issues were explored by more than 500 international and local water sector actors from the public, private and civil society. Gro for GooD researchers Prof. Bancy Mati, Prof. John Gathenya and Mike Thomas actively engaged in the event by being presenters in various sessions including Tomorrow's Partnerships in Water Resources Management, Opportunities for Business Partnerships in Irrigation, Water Storage and Land Reclamation and Innovative and Climate Smart Irrigation, Water Storage and Land Reclamation technologies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.kenyawaterweek.org/2016-kenya-water-week-programme/ |
| Description | Presentation at the Experts and Stakeholders Workshop on the AMCOW Pan-African Groundwater |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Ms Florence Tanui made a presentation Research into Use - Examples from Kenya from the Gro for GooD project and REACH programme Experts and Stakeholders Workshop on the AMCOW (African Ministers' Council on Water) Pan-African Groundwater Programme, (APAGroP), October 1-2, Ole Sereni Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. The event was attended by Cabinet Secretary Hon. Chelugui as the high-level ministerial guest representing the Government of Kenya.The UPGro Consortium has been a key partner in the AMCOW-led process to establish a pan-African Groundwater Programme (APAGroP), with the aim of achieving sustainably managed groundwater use for improved lives and livelihoods in Africa. UPGro supported the first APAGroP workshop in Nairobi (Oct 2019), which led to two working groups being established - one on groundwater governance, the other on groundwater in practice. These will be operationalised at a second workshop in Kampala (Feb 2020) and will initially focus on short-term actions, which can be delivered alongside key partners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://upgro.org/2019/10/08/amcow-launches-its-pan-african-groundwater-program/ |
| Description | School Water Clubs Event in Kwale County, Kenya |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The Gro for GooD project delivered a programme of engagement to teach young people in Kwale County about water science and management. Water Clubs at 3 secondary schools participated in field trips, practical activities, experiments and conducting their own group research projects. This outreach work aimed to develop students' research and communication skills and showcase career options in the water sector. In the run up to World Water Day 2018, the Gro for GooD project was delighted to welcome Madam Bridget Wambua, Director of Education for Kwale County, Kenya, to provide opening remarks at a special event to celebrate the success of the Schools Water Clubs supported by the project in partnership with Base Titanium. As the event got going, students listened with great interest to the keynote speech by Prof. Dan Olago from the University of Nairobi, and then took to the stage themselves for a series of presentations about club activities including water quality testing of school waterpoints, the installation and use of rain-gauges on school grounds, and field trips to the Base Titanium mine to see how the mine manages and recycles water in its operation. Other students presented their own mini-research projects into topics such as water conservation in agriculture and strategies for keeping water safe to drink, and one group gave an excellent explanation of artesian wells based on an email exchange with Gro for GooD hydrogeologist Mike Lane. Students also brought practical demonstrations and posters to show in the teabreak, including a solar still demonstration from a group of students who were also invited to show their improved solar still design at Kenya's National Science Fair for schools. Madame Wambua and Professor Dan Olago then presented the schools, water clubs and club patrons with certificates of appreciation for their hard work and dedication to water-related environmental education, and 2 laptops were given to each club. The laptops were provided by the UK charity IT Schools Africa and preloaded with water-related environmental education resources collated by the Gro for GooD team. Students also received print copies of a newly published Water Module Student Resource which was developed by the Gro for GooD research team with input from students and teachers at the schools. Mr Joseph Kimtai, teacher and club patron at Kingwede Girls Secondary School, said, "I find this module of activities about water so helpful to the students - it complements what we are teaching in class. It also encourages critical thinking and solving problems related to the environment which is in line with one of the competencies of the incoming competency-based curriculum for Kenyan schools." As a follow up to this, Mr Kimtai met with the Nairobi University Geology Students Association (NUGSA) to advise them on plans for further groundwater-themed outreach to schools in 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://upgro.org/2018/03/22/back-to-school-the-future-of-water-starts-here-wwf8-worldwaterday2018/ |
| Description | Short piece on challenges of rural water supply in Kenya on BBC South Today news |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A short spot on BBC South Today on the challenges of rural water supply in Kenya - 18th June 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Smart handpumps - Austrian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | German language article on Austrian Broadcasting Corporation website |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://science.orf.at/stories/2830711/ |
| Description | TV interview with Patrick Thomson on ITV News |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Item on Working towards preventing famine in the future - featuring Gro for GooD researcher Patrick Thomson talking about aquifer monitoring using handpump networks. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2017-03-16/working-towards-preventing-famine-in-the-future/ |
| Description | Talk to the Rotary Club of Diani |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | 20 members of the Rotary Club of Diani (businesspeople in Kwale County) were presented with findings relating to the importance of groundwater in mitigating the impacts of drought and with evidence for the need for a management plan for new water infrastructure efficacy. The talk was given on request by the club which is seeking advice about a borehole it is planning to drill for a local primary school. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Teacher workshops with secondary schools in Cameroon |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The reach and impact of water-focused research can be increased by supporting schools in making the most of water as an interdisciplinary learning topic, one that is universally relevant and relatable. This was the motivation behind the creation of The Water Module, a set of educational resources produced through engagement with schools in Kenya as part of the Gro for GooD project. The module explores different aspects of human interaction with water resources and includes ideas for group projects and practical activities. It is available online via IGRAC (UNESCO International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre - https://www.un-igrac.org/news/educational-resource-secondary-schools-available-download). Under a ESRC IAA Stage 1 Knowledge Exchange grant (March to September 2020), we partnered with a teacher training organisation in Cameroon, ISTP (In Service Training Programme) and worked with teachers and education advisors to scope out how The Water Module could be used by schools in Cameroon. The process was designed to allow input from educators on the best approach for adapting the module materials for the Cameroon context, and has clarified the level of support (e.g. financial, material, engagement with researchers) required to enhance the existing coverage of water topics in schools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | UPGro film - collaborative output of the UPGro consortium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The film, a collaborative output with the UPGro consortium, explains groundwater and presents key research findings from a 7-year UK-Government (DFID-UKRI) funded research programme called UPGro (Unlocking the Potential of Groundwater for the Poor). Groundwater is extremely important for sub-Saharan Africa, and how it is managed and shared in the future will be central to securing people's lives and livelihoods. Groundwater thus needs to feature in policy discussions and for investments in the continent. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://youtu.be/hLJxw6hkjYM |
| Description | USAID Webinar on Preventive maintenance models for rural water sustainability |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Oxford University is a partner in USAID's Sustainable WASH Systems Learning Partnership (2016-21) with evidence from the Gro for GooD programme informing the global learning network. On August 23rd, Rob Hope drew on work at the Gro for GooD study site in Kwale County during his presentation in a USAID webinar on Preventative Maintenance Models . This event reached an international audience of over 100 participants including representatives from the World Bank. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.globalwaters.org/resources/webinars/sws/preventive-maintenance-for-water-services |
| Description | Video and blogpost by Dr Johanna Koehler featuring Gro for GooD project research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Blog and video interview with Dr Johanna Koehler, Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment/School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford entitled "Rural water risk in Kenya: Sharing responsibility in Kenya. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://upgro.org/2020/03/16/meet-dr-johanna-koehler-a-young-researcher-helping-to-revolutionise-rur... |
| Description | Video report: Four key interventions for welfare improvement in Kwale County Kenya |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Video interview with Dr Jacob Katuva on findings from Gro for GooD research on groundwater and poverty in Kwale County, Kenya. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://youtu.be/iRXGA69t7vE |
| Description | WWF Water Stakeholders Platform - 14th & 15th Nov, 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Gro for GooD project participated in WWF Water Stakeholders Platform - 14th & 15th Nov, 2016, which brought together 8 local stakeholder organisations. The goal of participating in this workshop run by WWF was to help create common understanding on water management issues in Kwale in general and Mukurumudzi river catchment in particular |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Why is there a handpump in the carpark? Seminar at the School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A seminar was held at the University of Oxford's School of Geography and the Environment on October 17th 2016 to reveal the purpose behind a handpump which has been installed in the carpark. The 'Smart Handpump' is part of a bold research initiative that connects novel technology, computational informatics, institutional design, sustainable finance and policy reform, to improve poor people's access to safe, reliable water. The event attracted representatives from governmental and third sector organisations and has increased awareness of a new and transferable model to achieve reliable water services in rural Africa. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.water.ox.ac.uk/why-theres-a-handpump-in-an-oxford-car-park/ |