Water stressed cities: individual choice, access to water and pathways to resilience in sub-Saharan Africa
Lead Research Organisation:
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Department Name: Cardiff School of Planning and Geography
Abstract
Cities across the globe are facing water crises. Rapidly rising populations, climate change and ageing infrastructures are combining to create long-term water scarcity alongside episodic shocks when public water supplies fail. Around the world some 500m urban dwellers are currently estimated to live with water shortages, a figure that will rise to 1.9bn by 2050. This has far-reaching consequences for social and economic wellbeing and surrounding natural ecosystems. The problem is particularly acute in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which is experiencing the fastest rate of urbanisation across the globe. In 2018, Cape Town, South Africa, came close to being the first major city in the world to run out of water, whilst Lagos in Nigeria is experiencing an abiding water crisis. In the face of governments' failure to provide reliable water supplies individual households and firms invest in their own personal water supply solutions, ranging from investing in their own boreholes and wellpoints to access groundwater reserves through to greywater harvesting.
Whilst individual supply solutions can provide a buffer to water shocks there are cumulative risks involved from a proliferation of individual actions. Over-abstraction, contamination and unequal access to water supplies within cities are particular concerns, with fiscal impacts also prevalent. Recent research illuminates the reasons for the choices made, but the scale of the actions taken, the values underlying these and their relationship to wider collective resilience outcomes remain uncertain. The aim of this research is to establish fundamental insights that strengthen our understanding of the emergent tradeoffs and spillovers between individual choices and the resilience of particular places.
At its simplest, resilience provides the ability to cope with sudden shocks or more long-term crises. In more dynamic circumstances, as experienced in contemporary urban SSA, resilience is better framed as the ability of an individual, system or society to adapt and, where necessary, transform to new circumstances. However, our understanding of how these processes of transformation play out in practice and influence the longer-term resilience of particular places to climatic, social or economic shocks remains acutely underdeveloped. Critical to this is an appreciation of the interplay between individual choice and collective outcome.
The research has three objectives. Firstly, to strengthen our knowledge of the extent to which individual water supply choices are influencing collective social, economic and ecological outcomes in four key cities (Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Lagos and Windhoek). Secondly, to understand the conditions, norms and values that frame individual capacities to act in order to develop more effective everyday governance practices for a collective urban resilience. Thirdly, to develop new conceptual insights on urban water resilience in the face of natural and man-made shocks, through the development of an international community of engaged researchers and stakeholders.
The 7-year programme uses a novel mixed methods cross-cultural approach to explore this theme and develop strong practical partnerships within each city. Through comparative research it examines how individual and regulatory responses to water stress influence the resilience of each city and its inhabitants to potential shocks. The Fellowship will generate new understandings of the factors shaping the resilience of cities and contributes to the development of new models of urban development aligned to the needs of SSA. The Fellowship has been developed in collaboration with local actors and with global stakeholders, such as UN-Habitat, promoting real impact. It will inform urban water management practices (particularly of groundwater), support resilience agendas in the four cities and directly contribute to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Whilst individual supply solutions can provide a buffer to water shocks there are cumulative risks involved from a proliferation of individual actions. Over-abstraction, contamination and unequal access to water supplies within cities are particular concerns, with fiscal impacts also prevalent. Recent research illuminates the reasons for the choices made, but the scale of the actions taken, the values underlying these and their relationship to wider collective resilience outcomes remain uncertain. The aim of this research is to establish fundamental insights that strengthen our understanding of the emergent tradeoffs and spillovers between individual choices and the resilience of particular places.
At its simplest, resilience provides the ability to cope with sudden shocks or more long-term crises. In more dynamic circumstances, as experienced in contemporary urban SSA, resilience is better framed as the ability of an individual, system or society to adapt and, where necessary, transform to new circumstances. However, our understanding of how these processes of transformation play out in practice and influence the longer-term resilience of particular places to climatic, social or economic shocks remains acutely underdeveloped. Critical to this is an appreciation of the interplay between individual choice and collective outcome.
The research has three objectives. Firstly, to strengthen our knowledge of the extent to which individual water supply choices are influencing collective social, economic and ecological outcomes in four key cities (Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Lagos and Windhoek). Secondly, to understand the conditions, norms and values that frame individual capacities to act in order to develop more effective everyday governance practices for a collective urban resilience. Thirdly, to develop new conceptual insights on urban water resilience in the face of natural and man-made shocks, through the development of an international community of engaged researchers and stakeholders.
The 7-year programme uses a novel mixed methods cross-cultural approach to explore this theme and develop strong practical partnerships within each city. Through comparative research it examines how individual and regulatory responses to water stress influence the resilience of each city and its inhabitants to potential shocks. The Fellowship will generate new understandings of the factors shaping the resilience of cities and contributes to the development of new models of urban development aligned to the needs of SSA. The Fellowship has been developed in collaboration with local actors and with global stakeholders, such as UN-Habitat, promoting real impact. It will inform urban water management practices (particularly of groundwater), support resilience agendas in the four cities and directly contribute to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Planned Impact
Strengthening the resilience of societies in the face of shocks and change is now central to key international agreements (e.g. UN Sustainable Development Goals, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Paris Agreement on Climate Change, World Humanitarian Summit Framework, New Urban Agenda of Habitat III). There is broad agreement that this requires transformational and inclusive approaches, which are cognisant of scale and potential temporal trade-offs. Achieving these global goals requires collective action at the local, national and international level by communities, public authorities and the private sector. This Fellowship will contribute to these goals through each of its 3 objectives:
Firstly, my work will provide one of the first comprehensive and longitudinal assessments of the extent of the actions taken by actors in response to water stress in these major economic centres. A better understanding of the scale and nature of these developments, and their potential spillover effects, will not only benefit governing authorities and local communities but will provide learning outcomes that can be utilised internationally. Jointly devising improved policy responses will help generate health and economic returns crucial to sustainable urban development.
Secondly, working with community groups, water utilities and public sector actors will provide tools to facilitate improvements to the effectiveness of water governance and delivery policies, ranging from aquifer management plans through to community water management. Realising these public service benefits is crucial to the Fellowship.
Finally, I will contribute to a longer-term impact through raising awareness and understanding of the role of individual action in shaping collective resilience outcomes and how this might, in turn, be shaped. Through working with ARUP (informing their city resilience programmes), UN-Habitat (contributing to their Training Programme for City Leaders) and more directly with city authorities (such as City of Cape Town), this will help to build professional capacity and capability in the field of urban resilience.
These impacts will be achieved through working with four broad groups of beneficiaries. The means of achieving this are set out in the Pathways to Impact. Policy-makers are crucial beneficiaries of the Fellowship. At a city-level, I will engage with city authorities in Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Lagos and Windhoek to raise awareness and understanding of the issues involved. At the international level, I will engage with UN-Habitat both to reach a wider network of urban authorities, and to influence international agendas. Through UN-Habitat I will also have access to national governments, who form a key interest group for my work. My Fellowship is also of relevance to the "city as a system" approach now being taken by DfID in its African Cities Research Programme and its priority to strengthen resilience and response to crisis.
In terms of water management and governance, water utility companies, such as NAMWATER in Namibia and the Lagos State Water Corporation in Nigeria, are important beneficiaries and have agreed to engage in the Fellowship. Wider urban service providers, such as ARUP, will also benefit from the insights generated by my work. Similarly, the Fellowship will provide important outcomes for third sector organisations (local and international) and donor bodies. The involvement of WaterAid is testament to this.
The ultimate beneficiaries of the Fellowship will be the firms and residents of towns and cities affected by water stress. By working with community leaders, as well as those organisations already identified, I will ensure that knowledge and understanding is offered which has a lasting practical impact. My previous research in Nigeria, where I was interviewed by local radio and state television, proved the value of my approach for raising awareness of challenges and good practice.
Firstly, my work will provide one of the first comprehensive and longitudinal assessments of the extent of the actions taken by actors in response to water stress in these major economic centres. A better understanding of the scale and nature of these developments, and their potential spillover effects, will not only benefit governing authorities and local communities but will provide learning outcomes that can be utilised internationally. Jointly devising improved policy responses will help generate health and economic returns crucial to sustainable urban development.
Secondly, working with community groups, water utilities and public sector actors will provide tools to facilitate improvements to the effectiveness of water governance and delivery policies, ranging from aquifer management plans through to community water management. Realising these public service benefits is crucial to the Fellowship.
Finally, I will contribute to a longer-term impact through raising awareness and understanding of the role of individual action in shaping collective resilience outcomes and how this might, in turn, be shaped. Through working with ARUP (informing their city resilience programmes), UN-Habitat (contributing to their Training Programme for City Leaders) and more directly with city authorities (such as City of Cape Town), this will help to build professional capacity and capability in the field of urban resilience.
These impacts will be achieved through working with four broad groups of beneficiaries. The means of achieving this are set out in the Pathways to Impact. Policy-makers are crucial beneficiaries of the Fellowship. At a city-level, I will engage with city authorities in Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Lagos and Windhoek to raise awareness and understanding of the issues involved. At the international level, I will engage with UN-Habitat both to reach a wider network of urban authorities, and to influence international agendas. Through UN-Habitat I will also have access to national governments, who form a key interest group for my work. My Fellowship is also of relevance to the "city as a system" approach now being taken by DfID in its African Cities Research Programme and its priority to strengthen resilience and response to crisis.
In terms of water management and governance, water utility companies, such as NAMWATER in Namibia and the Lagos State Water Corporation in Nigeria, are important beneficiaries and have agreed to engage in the Fellowship. Wider urban service providers, such as ARUP, will also benefit from the insights generated by my work. Similarly, the Fellowship will provide important outcomes for third sector organisations (local and international) and donor bodies. The involvement of WaterAid is testament to this.
The ultimate beneficiaries of the Fellowship will be the firms and residents of towns and cities affected by water stress. By working with community leaders, as well as those organisations already identified, I will ensure that knowledge and understanding is offered which has a lasting practical impact. My previous research in Nigeria, where I was interviewed by local radio and state television, proved the value of my approach for raising awareness of challenges and good practice.
Organisations
- CARDIFF UNIVERSITY (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- Sokoine University of Agriculture (Collaboration)
- WATERAID (Collaboration)
- STOCKHOLM INTERNATIONAL WATER INSTITUTE (Collaboration)
- University of Lagos (Collaboration)
- African Ministers' Council on Water (Collaboration)
- British Geological Survey (Collaboration)
- University of Namibia (Collaboration)
- ADDIS ABABA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- UN Habitat, Kenya (Collaboration)
- Gollis University (Collaboration)
- University of Cape Town (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI (Collaboration)
- Arup Group (Collaboration)
Publications
Description | Facilitating a sub-group of experts on urban groundwater on behalf of the AMCOW Pan-Africa groundwater programme |
Geographic Reach | Africa |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | 'Every Living Thing': The Nexus of Cultural and Economic Values Within Resilient Urban Water Systems (a Case Study of Hargeisa, Somaliland) |
Amount | £48,869 (GBP) |
Organisation | The British Academy |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2021 |
End | 04/2023 |
Description | Cardiff University's NERC Discipline Hopping for Environmental Solutions |
Amount | £40,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Cardiff University |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2022 |
End | 04/2022 |
Description | GCRF Catalyst (HEFCW funding) |
Amount | £850,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Cardiff University |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2020 |
End | 07/2021 |
Description | AMCOW Pan-African Groundwater Programme |
Organisation | African Ministers' Council on Water |
Country | Nigeria |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Leading a sub-theme action group on the topic of Urban Groundwater |
Collaborator Contribution | Facilitating the work of the Urban Groundwater Action Group. Managing the ApAGROP Programme. |
Impact | No outputs yet |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | UKRI FLF |
Organisation | Arup Group |
Department | Cities, Energy and Climate Change Consulting |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Leading the development of a research and engagement programme on the theme of water resilient cities in Sub-Saharan Africa |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing support and advice to assist in the development of the concept of urban water resilience in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary and trans-sectoral. Includes policy and practice actors, NGOs and academia, expertise drawn from hydrogeology, governance and human geography. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | UKRI FLF |
Organisation | British Geological Survey |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leading the development of a research and engagement programme on the theme of water resilient cities in Sub-Saharan Africa |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing support and advice to assist in the development of the concept of urban water resilience in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary and trans-sectoral. Includes policy and practice actors, NGOs and academia, expertise drawn from hydrogeology, governance and human geography. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | UKRI FLF |
Organisation | Sokoine University of Agriculture |
Country | Tanzania, United Republic of |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leading the development of a research and engagement programme on the theme of water resilient cities in Sub-Saharan Africa |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing support and advice to assist in the development of the concept of urban water resilience in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary and trans-sectoral. Includes policy and practice actors, NGOs and academia, expertise drawn from hydrogeology, governance and human geography. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | UKRI FLF |
Organisation | Stockholm International Water Institute |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Leading the development of a research and engagement programme on the theme of water resilient cities in Sub-Saharan Africa |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing support and advice to assist in the development of the concept of urban water resilience in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary and trans-sectoral. Includes policy and practice actors, NGOs and academia, expertise drawn from hydrogeology, governance and human geography. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | UKRI FLF |
Organisation | UN Habitat, Kenya |
Country | Kenya |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Leading the development of a research and engagement programme on the theme of water resilient cities in Sub-Saharan Africa |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing support and advice to assist in the development of the concept of urban water resilience in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary and trans-sectoral. Includes policy and practice actors, NGOs and academia, expertise drawn from hydrogeology, governance and human geography. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | UKRI FLF |
Organisation | University of Cape Town |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leading the development of a research and engagement programme on the theme of water resilient cities in Sub-Saharan Africa |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing support and advice to assist in the development of the concept of urban water resilience in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary and trans-sectoral. Includes policy and practice actors, NGOs and academia, expertise drawn from hydrogeology, governance and human geography. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | UKRI FLF |
Organisation | University of Lagos |
Country | Nigeria |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leading the development of a research and engagement programme on the theme of water resilient cities in Sub-Saharan Africa |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing support and advice to assist in the development of the concept of urban water resilience in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary and trans-sectoral. Includes policy and practice actors, NGOs and academia, expertise drawn from hydrogeology, governance and human geography. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | UKRI FLF |
Organisation | University of Namibia |
Country | Namibia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leading the development of a research and engagement programme on the theme of water resilient cities in Sub-Saharan Africa |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing support and advice to assist in the development of the concept of urban water resilience in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary and trans-sectoral. Includes policy and practice actors, NGOs and academia, expertise drawn from hydrogeology, governance and human geography. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | UKRI FLF |
Organisation | WaterAid |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Leading the development of a research and engagement programme on the theme of water resilient cities in Sub-Saharan Africa |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing support and advice to assist in the development of the concept of urban water resilience in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary and trans-sectoral. Includes policy and practice actors, NGOs and academia, expertise drawn from hydrogeology, governance and human geography. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Urban Water Resilience in Africa |
Organisation | Addis Ababa Science and Technology University |
Country | Ethiopia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | To strengthen understanding of water practices and behaviours in three urban centres and how this influence urban resilience outcomes. |
Collaborator Contribution | To co-design research inputs and to lead fieldwork activities. To support analysis and reporting of results and engage with local stakeholders. |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration involving hydrogeology, human geography, environmental sciences and data science. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Urban Water Resilience in Africa |
Organisation | Gollis University |
Country | Somalia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | To strengthen understanding of water practices and behaviours in three urban centres and how this influence urban resilience outcomes. |
Collaborator Contribution | To co-design research inputs and to lead fieldwork activities. To support analysis and reporting of results and engage with local stakeholders. |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration involving hydrogeology, human geography, environmental sciences and data science. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Urban Water Resilience in Africa |
Organisation | University of Nairobi |
Country | Kenya |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | To strengthen understanding of water practices and behaviours in three urban centres and how this influence urban resilience outcomes. |
Collaborator Contribution | To co-design research inputs and to lead fieldwork activities. To support analysis and reporting of results and engage with local stakeholders. |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration involving hydrogeology, human geography, environmental sciences and data science. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | African Cities Water Adaptation Platform |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Organised by a collaboration of leading NGOs and 'think tanks' the African Cities Water Adaptation Platform initiated a series of activities aiming to strengthen the water resilience of cities across Africa. ACWA was launched at COP27 in Cairo. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Groundwater Dialogues |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | I chaired and facilitated a working group of the African Ministers' Council on Water Groundwater Programme. The group focused on the role of groundwater in promoting urban water resilience. It resulted in the publication of a 'dialogue document' launched at the World Water Forum (Dakar) in 2022. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
Description | OKRE Development Rooms |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Invited to present my work to the OKRE Development Rooms. OKRE is a charity that brings together experts and media practitioners (film makers, broadcasters, script writers, commissioning editors, animators, app and game developers) with experts. The virtual event was structured into a series of breakout rooms where I presented a short summary of my work and took questions. Each breakout room consisted of up to 8 participants. There were five breakout rooms in the evening. The participants reported an increased awareness and understanding of the issues raised. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Organised a session on 'Drilling Dialogues' at AfWA 2020 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Involved a discussion on groundwater drilling practices in sub-Saharan Africa. Raising awareness of issues and challenges, particularly in urban settings. The audience was drawn from academia and policy/practice. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Stockholm World Water Week |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Application to present a paper at a special session of World Water Week accepted. Presentation was a recorded delivery as part of a panel, followed by a discussion. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | World Resource Institute Urban Water Resilience in Africa |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Contribute to developing a collective agenda for urban water resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |