IWMI Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/36185

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Citizen science data to improve rainfall-runoff model performance in urbanizing Akaki Catchment, Awash Basin, Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2024-06) Mengistie, G. K.; Haile, Alemseged Tamiru; O'Donnell, G.; Negash, E. D.; Bekele, Tilaye Worku; Tedla, H. Z.
Study region: Akaki is a headwater catchment of the Awash River Basin in Ethiopia and hosts Addis Ababa. The catchment remains ungauged despite providing diverse ecosystem services. Study focus: Studies typically assume that calibrated model parameters remain valid outside the calibration period despite many catchments undergoing anthropogenic change. We evaluated the value of citizen science data to improve a rainfall-runoff model performance in the urbanizing Akaki catchment. Five and nineteen people trained as citizen scientists monitored river stage and rainfall data, respectively, for three years. Rating curves were developed for the conversion of stage data into river flow data. A HEC-HMS model, calibrated for a historical period, was evaluated using citizen science data. Next, we assessed the effectiveness of progressively updating model parameters using a recent land use land cover map and citizen science data. Then, the HEC-HMS model was recalibrated at the catchment outlet and validated at multiple sub-catchments’ outlets. Finally, the model was recalibrated at multiple sub-catchments’ outlets using citizen science data. New hydrological insights for the region: the HEC-HMS model of the Akaki, which was calibrated for a historical period, does not capture the current rainfall-runoff response. However, the model simulations were made useful by revisiting the model calibration at multiple sub-catchments’ outlets using citizen science data. Overall, this article demonstrates the value of citizen science data for model calibration and validation.
Participatory planning to conserve freshwater ecosystems in the Rift Valley Lakes Basin, Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2024-03) Mekuria, Wolde; Girma, R.; Haileslassie, Amare; Tegegne, Desalegn; Haile, Alemseged Tamiru
Freshwater ecosystems are important for directly ensuring a range of benefits and services that sustain local livelihoods and help mitigate climate change. However, freshwater ecosystems are threatened by anthropogenic and natural pressures affecting their ability to sustainably provide these services. Managing freshwater ecosys tems is mainly challenged by the complexity of the drivers of their degradation and by the difficulty of balancing the need for short-term socioeconomic development and protecting and restoring ecosystems to support longterm, sustainable development. Addressing such challenges requires an integrated and systematic approach, catchment-wide management and meaningful engagement and collaboration among stakeholders. The present study was conducted in Lake Ziway, Rift Valley Lakes Basin, Ethiopia. The overarching objective was to conserve the freshwater ecosystem through co-planning and designing management options for the buffer zone and entire catchment. The study engaged local communities through multiple approaches including inception and vali dation workshops, reconnaissance surveys, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. It also employed quantitative data collection methods to characterize the freshwater ecosystem and entire catchment. The participatory approach employed in this study identified multiple management options including tree-based forest and landscape restoration measures, integrated soil and water conservation, and multiple buffer zone restoration measures. The identified and validated management options are aimed at improving the functionality of the freshwater ecosystem in the face of increased need of economic development and climate change. Furthermore, the study provided key recommendations to support the processes of policy development and the effective implementation of suggested and validated management options.
Using global datasets to estimate flood exposure at the city scale: an evaluation in Addis Ababa
(Journal Article, 2024-02) Carr, A. B.; Trigg, M. A.; Haile, Alemseged Tamiru; Bernhofen, M. V.; Alemu, Abel Negussie; Bekele, Tilaye Worku; Walsh, C. L.
Introduction: Cities located in lower income countries are global flood risk hotspots. Assessment and management of these risks forms a key part of global climate adaptation efforts. City scale flood risk assessments necessitate flood hazard information, which is challenging to obtain in these localities because of data quality/scarcity issues, and the complex multi-source nature of urban flood dynamics. A growing array of global datasets provide an attractive means of closing these data gaps, but their suitability for this context remains relatively unknown. Methods: Here, we test the use of relevant global terrain, rainfall, and flood hazard data products in a flood hazard and exposure assessment framework covering Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. To conduct the tests, we first developed a city scale rain-on-grid hydrodynamic flood model based on local data and used the model results to identify buildings exposed to flooding. We then observed how the results of this flood exposure assessment changed when each of the global datasets are used in turn to drive the hydrodynamic model in place of its local counterpart. Results and discussion: Results are evaluated in terms of both the total number of exposed buildings, and the spatial distribution of exposure across Addis Ababa. Our results show that of the datasets tested, the FABDEM global terrain and the PXR global rainfall data products provide the most promise for use at the city scale in lower income countries.
Advancing water security in Africa with new high-resolution discharge data
(Journal Article, 2024-11) Akpoti, Komlavi; Velpuri, Naga Manohar; Mizukami, N.; Kagone, S.; Leh, Mansoor; Mekonnen, Kirubel; Owusu, Afua; Tinonetsana, Primrose; Phiri, Michael; Madushanka, Lahiru; Perera, Tharindu; Paranamana, Thilina Prabhath; Parrish, G. E. L.; Senay, G. B.; Seid, Abdulkarim
VegDischarge v1, which covers over 64,000 river segments in Africa, is a natural river discharge dataset produced by coupled modeling; the agro-hydrologic VegET model and the mizuRoute routing model for the period 2001-2021. Using remote sensing data and hydrological modeling system, the 1-km runoff field simulated by VegET, was routed with mizuRoute. Performance metrics show strong model reliability, with R² of 0.5–0.9, NSE of 0.6–0.9, and KGE of 0.5–0.8 at the continental scale. The total average annual discharge for Africa is quantified at 3271.4 km³·year−1, with contributions to oceanic basins: 1000.0 km³·year−1 to the North Atlantic, primarily from the Senegal, Gambia, Volta, and Niger Rivers; 1327.2 km³·year−1 to the South Atlantic, largely from the Congo River; 214.7 km³·year−1 to the Mediterranean Sea, predominantly from the Nile River; and 729.4 km³·year−1 to the Indian Ocean, with inputs from rivers such as the Zambezi. The dataset is valuable for stakeholders and researchers to understand water availability, its temporal and spatial variations that affect water-related infrastructure planning, sustainable resource allocation, and the development of climate resilience strategies.
Meta-analysis of yield-emission trade off in direct seeded vs. puddled transplanted rice: towards a cleaner and sustainable production
(Journal Article, 2024-11) Reddy, K. S.; Parihar, C. M.; Panneerselvam, P.; Sarkar, A.; Patra, K.; Bharadwaj, S.; Sena, Dipaka R.; Reddy, S.; Sinha, A.; Dhakar, R.; Kumar, V.; Nayak, H. S.
Conventional rice production through puddled transplanted rice-PTR is tillage, water, energy, and capital intensive. Furthermore, it is a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this regard, Direct seeded rice-DSR can be a potential alternative to PTR. DSR can reduce input use and GHGs emissions, while sustaining yields. However, depending upon agroclimatic situation, DSR impact analysis on GHGs emission and yield resulted inconsistent findings, questioning whether it is better over PTR or not. To bridge this knowledge gap, we performed a meta-analysis synthesizing 876 paired measurements from 54-peer-reviewed studies to understand how DSR impacts N2O and CH4 emissions, GWP (heat-trapping potential of greenhouse gases compared to CO2), yield and C-footprint-CFP (environmental impact in CO2 eq. due to concerned activity). Compared to PTR, DSR decreased CH4 emissions by 70%, GWP by 37% and CFP by 34%, despite 85% increase in N2O emissions. However, this shift comes with a trade-off, with 11% decrease in yield. To decipher the primary factors driving these outcomes, we conducted subgroup analyses by taking assorted environmental conditions and management practices as moderators. Low to medium pH soils, zero tillage, puddled soil (wet DSR), conventional flooding, and high nitrogen rates (>200kg/ha) are found to be favourable for DSR with comparable yields but posing a discrepancy with environmental sustainability. Therefore, further research to evaluate DSR across agro-ecologies, management practices, are needed, to optimize yields with lower GWP and CFP.
Social-ecological landscape sustainability in West Africa: applying the driver pressure state impact response framework in Ghana and Nigeria
(Journal Article, 2024-11) Atampugre, Gerald; Tilahun, Seifu Admassu; Oke, Adebayo; Mabhaudhi, T.; Cofie, Olufunke; Igbadun, H. E.; Olaleye, A. O.
This study interrogates the state of social-ecological landscapes (SEL) in West Africa, focusing on two case studies: the Mankran SEL in Ghana (case study 1) and the Doma–Rutu SEL in Nigeria (case study 2). Using a mix of methods, the assessment was framed by the Drivers Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR) model tailored for SEL evaluation (DPSIR-SEL). In the Mankran landscape, land use patterns shifted significantly from 2008 to 2018, with cash crop cultivation peaking at 30% in 2015 before declining to 14.5% by 2018. Water quality assessments in the Mankran micro-watershed indicated that several parameters, including Total Suspended Solids (TSS) at 914.41 ± 1974 mg/L, lead at 18.73 ± 17.26 µg/L, and arsenic at 53.41 ± 86.66 µg/L, exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) standards, raising concerns about potential contamination. In contrast, the Doma–Rutu landscape in Nigeria experienced land use and land cover (LULC) changes from 2000 to 2022, characterized by the expansion of residential and agricultural areas alongside modifications to natural water bodies and vegetation. Water quality issues have emerged, with elevated levels of electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and salinity. Furthermore, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) revealed persistent herder-farmer conflicts in Nigeria, which have historically constrained crop production due to various environmental and social factors. The intertwined challenges faced by both the Mankran and Doma–Rutu landscapes underscore the urgent need for sustainable and inclusive resource management, adaptive land-use strategies, and proactive measures to safeguard water quality.
Does financial inclusion enhance farmers' resilience to climate change? Evidence from rural Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2024-11) Negera, M.; Alemu, T.; Hagos, Fitsum; Haileslassie, Amare
Financial inclusion is recognized as a vital driver of sustainable development and serves as a fundamental pillar of climate action. It is crucial to enhance the climate resilience of smallholder farmers in the face of severe and unpredictable climate shocks, which disproportionately affect them. However, the level of financial inclusion in Ethiopia remains low, and its impact on the climate resilience of smallholder farmers has not been thoroughly examined using rigorous model and comprehensive dataset. This study investigates the impact of financial inclusion on the climate resilience of rural households, using a large data set from the Ethiopian Socio-Economic Survey. The principal component analysis was applied to construct a climate resilience index. The financial inclusion was measured using an index that encompasses three dimensions: penetration, availability, and usage. In order to address the endogenous nature of financial inclusion, an instrumental variable approach was employed, using the distance to the nearest financial institution and religion as instrumental variables. The results demonstrated a positive and significant impact of financial inclusion on the climate resilience of rural households. Therefore, the government should strengthen the provision of essential financial and related infrastructures in rural Ethiopia to improve access to financial products and services. Furthermore, it is essential for policymakers to initiate and implement financial sector reforms that ensure the availability of affordable and tailored financial services. These reforms should also prioritize the development of climate-resilient agricultural finance, thereby contributing to the achievement of climate action goal of sustainable development.
Patterns of surface water dynamics and storage changes in a basin of Bundelkhand Region, India: implications for water management
(Journal Article, 2024-11) Bhatpuria, Dhyey; Sharma, Nitin; Amarnath, Giriraj; Sikka, Alok
Surface water is essential for agricultural, domestic and industrial production worldwide. Monitoring surface dynamics is crucial for sustainable ecosystems and global water resources. Importance of monitoring surface water dynamics is even more pronounced in the semi-arid regions worldwide. An analysis of surface water extent and volume change patterns has been conducted, comparing these dynamics with alterations in precipitation patterns within a basin in Central Bundelkhand, a semi-arid region in the Central India prone to droughts. To map the waterbodies, we leveraged Sentinel-1 SAR data using an automated mapping framework and utilised DEM dataset to extract bathymetry using interpolation with modifications using water persistence. Analysis revealed a lag in surface water peak water level with respect to accumulated rainfall by 2–3 months. Furthermore, we have categorised the water bodies into small, medium and large by surface area and found that smaller water bodies show a higher intra-annual variance, while medium and large water bodies show a lower intra-annual variance. The findings suggest that smaller communities reliant on smaller water bodies are at a higher risk from climate variability in the region and a delay in attaining peak surface storage across the basin causes further challenges to water management.
Shallow groundwater potential mapping and evaluation for climate resilient smallholder irrigation in the Zeway-Shalla Sub-basin, Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2024-11) Hulluka, T. A.; Ebrahim, Girma Yimer; Haile, Alemseged Tamiru; Haileslassie, Amare
Status of agricultural water management practices in Africa: a review for the prioritisation and operationalisation of the Africa Union’s irrigation development and agricultural water management (AU-IDAWM) strategy
(Journal Article, 2024-09) Dirwai, Tinashe Lindel; Taguta, C.; Senzanje, A.; Nhamo, L.; Cofie, Olufunke; Lankford, B.; Nyambe, H. N.; Mabhaudhi, T.
Efficient agricultural water management (AWM) practices enhance crop water productivity and promote climate change adaptation and resilience initiatives, particularly in smallholder farming systems. Approximately 90% of sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA) agriculture is rainfed under smallholder farmers who constitute about 60% of the continent’s population and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. While AWM is central to the African agenda, knowledge of AWM is fragmented, making it challenging to operationalize regional initiatives at country levels. Therefore, this study sought to review the status of AWM practices and technologies in Africa and provide guidelines, scenarios, and investment plans to guide the prioritization and operationalization of the African Union’s irrigation development and AWM (AU-IDAWM) initiative. The initiative proposes four developmental pathways; 1—improved water control and watershed management in rain-fed farming, 2—farmer-led irrigation, 3—irrigation scheme development and modernization, and 4—unconventional water use for irrigation. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses approach guided the systematic literature review. The study indicates that most agricultural production systems are mainly under pathways 1 and 2, which dictate the subsequent AWM practices. Pathway 4 had isolated adoption in North Africa. SSA exhibited overlaps in opportunities for AWM, whereas North Africa had green energy and strong extension services. The challenges were unique to each geopolitical region. Policy-related issues affected North Africa, whilst low investment in AWM dominated West Africa. Poor institutional coordination plagued East Africa, whilst low access to extension services affected Southern Africa. The Central African region was undermined by poor management practices that culminated in soil salinity in the agricultural lands. Targeted and scalable investments across interventions are necessary to potentially improve AWM uptake and subsequent food security in the continent. Also, institutional setups are essential in coordinating efforts towards achieving AWM. Extension services are essential information dissemination platforms for adopting effective climate-smart agriculture.
Digitalisation in agriculture: a scoping review of technologies in practice, challenges, and opportunities for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa
(Journal Article, 2024-12) Choruma, Dennis Junior; Dirwai, Tinashe Lindel; Mutenje, Munyaradzi Junia; Mustafa, M.; Chimonyo, V. G. P.; Jacobs-Mata, Inga; Mabhaudhi, T.
Digitalisation in agriculture is transforming the way farming is practised worldwide, and its potential benefits for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are particularly promising. Yet, scientific evidence on the digital technologies utilised by smallholder food producers in SSA and the associated challenges still needs improvement. This review attempts to provide a thorough overview of the technologies currently being employed by smallholder farmers in SSA while also exploring the associated challenges and opportunities. Through a systematic literature search, 27 relevant studies were analysed to identify the region-wise current technologies, challenges, and opportunities. Results show that various digital technologies are employed, including digital extension services and digital marketing of agricultural products. These technologies improve access to information and markets and enhance productivity. However, challenges hinder widespread adoption. Limited internet connectivity, low digital literacy, inadequate infrastructure, and affordability issues impede progress. Gender disparities further limit the equitable distribution of digitalisation benefits. Despite these challenges, significant opportunities arise from adopting digital technologies. The potential advantages are market access, better decision-making capabilities, and increased income and livelihoods. Digitalisation offers transformative possibilities for smallholder farmers in SSA. Overcoming barriers such as limited connectivity and low digital literacy is crucial. By harnessing the opportunities digital technologies can offer, the livelihoods of smallholder farmers can be uplifted, contributing to the growth of agriculture in SSA.
Leveraging crop yield forecasts using satellite information for early warning in Senegal
(Journal Article, 2024-11) Panjwani, Shweta; Jampani, Mahesh; Sambou, Mame H. A.; Amarnath, Giriraj
Agricultural losses driven by climate variability and anthropogenic pressures have severely impacted food security in Senegal. There is a crucial need to generate early warning signals for the upcoming season to enhance food security in response to the sudden climate shocks like drought. In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of maize and groundnut using factor analysis with a principal component approach. We aimed to identify suitable predictors of crop yields for the development of a seasonal yield prediction model. Subsequently, multi-regression analysis was performed to predict crop yield based on various combinations of satellite-derived vegetation and climate (rainfall) datasets as well as agronomic data from Senegal's 40 districts between 2010 and 2021. Studies revealed a strong correlation between seasonal rainfall (May to September) and crop yield: a 10–20 % decline in rainfall can lead to crop losses. The accuracy of the yield prediction model, built on the best performing scenarios for each district based on monsoon onset, duration, and planting time, exceeded 0.5 (Rsquared) for all districts when combining rainfall and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data. The model prediction accuracy varied between 0.6 and 0.8 for major crop growing areas. The study emphasizes that refining the yield prediction model using machine learning techniques can improve its accuracy and enable its implementation in early warning systems. This enhanced capability could bolster Senegal's resilience to climate change by aiding decision-makers and planners in developing more effective strategies to ensure food security.
A place in the sun: farmers’ co-benefits from solar irrigation in Bangladesh
(Journal Article, 2024-12) Buisson, Marie-Charlotte; Mitra, Archisman; Hounsa, T.; Habib, Md. A.; Mukherji, Aditi
Solar irrigation pumps (SIPs) are gradually replacing diesel pumps in relatively water-intensive agricultural production systems and geographies to reduce carbon emissions from food systems. However, beyond its climate change mitigation potential and fulfillment of Nationally Determined Contributions commitments, the adoption of solar irrigation also has direct co-benefits for farmers. Taking the case of Bangladesh and anchored on primary data collected among solar and diesel pump users, this article analyses the role access to solar irrigation has on household and farm-level outcomes. The propensity score matching and inverse probability matching approaches identify a positive effect of SIP access on food security and profitability from dry-season paddy for adopters. Different transmission channels are explored to explain these co-benefits. Lower costs of irrigation and labor are identified as the strongest pathways. This analysis strengthens the case for investments toward the solarization of agriculture in developing countries where it delivers significant development co-benefits in addition to climate change mitigation benefits. The valuation of the farmers’ co-benefits, along with global climate mitigation impacts, also highlights the potential role of such programs toward climate justice.
Assessing GHG emissions of a tropical large hydropower reservoir using G-res and GEE
(Journal Article, 2024-11) De Sarkar, K.; Ghosh, Surajit; Bhattacharyya, S.; Chowdhury, A.; Holmatov, Bunyod
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from tropical large hydropower reservoirs (LHRs) is the highest among all climatic zones due to the combinatory effect of elevated content of flooded organic matter and high temperatures. Traditional methods for GHG emission estimation involve extensive fieldwork, topographic surveys, hydrological analyses, and environmental assessments with high-end instrument requirements. In a country like India, where the hydropower sector is mushrooming rapidly, implementing these techniques on such a large scale is challenging. Alternatively, cloud-based tools like Google Earth Engine (GEE), G-res, and Earth Observation (EO) data related to biophysical and climatic conditions with in-situ reservoir water levels provide an opportunity to quantify GHG emissions from LHRs efficiently. In the present study, Maithon, one of the oldest LHRs in India, situated in a tropical climatic zone, has been studied by integrating site-specific parameters to estimate GHG emissions. The results from this study, which show that at the mean operating level (146.31 m) of the reservoir, net GHG emission is 1,024 - 1,271 gCO2e/m2/yr (with a 95% confidence interval), are of significant importance. This study highlights the GHG emissions varying greatly between the full reservoir level (786 gCO2e/m2/yr) and near the dead storage level (3,855 gCO2e/m2/yr), indicating the role of reservoir operating level in mitigating GHG emissions to achieve global goals like net zero emissions. There has been limited work globally using the G-res tool, and this is the first comprehensive study of initial GHG emission estimation of a tropical reservoir using G-res and GEE incorporating updated high-resolution land use land cover and Sentinel-1 images.
Graph theory applications for advanced geospatial modelling and decision-making
(Journal Article, 2024-12) Ghosh, Surajit; Mallick, A.; Chowdhury, A.; De Sarkar, K.; Mukherjee, J.
Geospatial sciences (GS) include a wide range of applications, from environmental monitoring to infrastructure development, as well as location-based analysis and services. Notably, graph theory algorithms have emerged as indispensable tools in GS because of their capability to model and analyse spatial relationships efficiently. This article underscores the critical role of graph theory applications in addressing real-world geospatial challenges, emphasising their significance and potential for future innovations in advanced spatial analytics, including the digital twin concept. The analysis shows that researchers from 58 countries have contributed to exploring graph theory and its application over 37 years through more than 700 research articles. A comprehensive collection of case studies has been showcased to provide an overview of graph theory’s diverse and impactful applications in advanced geospatial research across various disciplines (transportation, urban planning, environmental management, ecology, disaster studies and many more) and their linkages to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Thus, the interdisciplinary nature of graph theory can foster an understanding of the association among different scientific domains for sustainable resource management and planning.
Assessing El Niño-induced drought in Zambia and its effects using earth observation data
(Journal Article, 2024-10) Ghosh, Surajit; Kour, Sneha; Taron, Avinandan; Kaywala, Karyn; Rajakaruna, Punsisi
Southern Africa faces significant impacts of El Niño primarily in the form of droughts. Zambia is not an exception. Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), rainfall anomaly and Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) are robust indicators for drought studies due to their distinct and complementary roles. Our results reveal severe meteorological drought conditions in Zambia using SPI and rainfall anomaly. VCI values have declined in the cropping season due to vegetation stress induced by water deficit conditions. Low rainfall leads to widespread deterioration of crop production, with approximately 40.46% of the country experiencing drought conditions in 2023–2024. The Central, Eastern, Southern, Lusaka, and Copperbelt provinces showed lower VCI values in March and April 2024, indicating poor crop health and drought-like conditions. On the other hand, low rainfall has substantially influenced hydropower reservoirs. Significant surface water loss is observed in the hydropower reservoirs such as Itezhi Tezhi Dam (117.40 sq. km), Mita Hills Dam (25.72 sq. km) and in parts of Lake Kariba (58.72 sq. km) between December 2023 and April 2024. This loss has disrupted industries relying on water resources and hindered hydropower generation, leaving substantial portions of the population without electricity for extended periods. The present study aims to explore the power of open access Earth Observation data and cloud analytics to evaluate the extent and multi-sectoral impact of the recent drought in Zambia. Results highlight the upcoming challenges the country might face in food and nutrition and the critical need for stakeholder involvement and policy design to mitigate future crises and strengthen vulnerable communities.
Spatial and multivariate assessment of access to water for sustainable agriculture intensification in semi-arid Ghana
(Journal Article, 2024-10) Boateng, E. N. K.; Atampugre, Gerald; Mariwah, S.; Mensah, I.; Johnson, F. A.; Furst, C.; Nyarko, B. K.
Climate change, population growth, rapid urbanization, shifting dietary patterns, and economic development pose significant challenges to food security, particularly in the Global South. Addressing these challenges involves efforts aimed at sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI), especially for smallholder farmers in marginalized regions. However, knowledge gaps persist regarding smallholder farmers’ access to water for SAI, particularly in arid and semi-arid agroecological zones. This study investigates smallholder farmers’ access to water for SAI in the Guinea and Sudan Savannah Agroecological Zones (SSAZ) of Ghana. Data were collected from 698 smallholder farmers across 25 communities using a structured questionnaire and geospatial techniques. The analysis employed cost distance analysis, factor analysis, and multinomial-ordered logistic regression. Findings indicate that the average distance travelled to access water from a dam or a river was 11 km and 9 km, respectively. Most respondents reported low to moderate water access for SAI. Key factors influencing water access included soil type, vegetation, and the distances to dams and rivers. To improve water access, it is recommended that smallholder farmers be educated on effective soil and water conservation techniques. Additionally, both government and non-governmental organizations should focus on building community-level dams to increase water availability for sustainable agricultural intensification.
Community-based water tenure in equitable and transformative drought resilience
(Journal Article, 2024-10) van Koppen, Barbara; Mweemba, C. E.; Amarnath, Giriraj; Schreiner, B.
In the search for promising pathways for equitable and transformative climate adaptation in low-income rural areas, the present study focuses on resilience to more variable and less predictable availability of precipitation and water resources. Equitable water governance is conceptualized as formal and informal polycentric decision-making that narrows infrastructure inequities and ensures equitable water resources allocation. Focusing on recognitional and procedural equity, vulnerable women’s and men’s community-based water tenure is starting point. Partnering with government in Zambia and with the Water Integrity Network in Kenya, field research in three communities in rural Zambia and in rural communities and a small town sharing several schemes in Kenya is conducted. These studies recognized horizontal polycentricity of community-based water tenure by identifying common features: communities’ age-old drought resilience coping strategies to meet daily domestic water needs and daily or seasonal small-scale productive water needs, by tapping water from surface- and groundwater sources through multi-purpose infrastructure, both self-financed and publicly supported, and by ‘sharing’ water ‘in’ within the community and ‘sharing out’ with neighbouring communities and powerful third parties. Procedural equity implies inclusive, locally-led planning, design and implementation in polycentric vertical governance with governments and other support agencies from local to national level and vice versa. The four interventions studied were the installation of a a solar-powered borehole for multiple uses and local government’s institutional framework for potential replication in Zambia, and post-construction support of small water systems and a planned megadam in Kenya. Further research on similar transformative approaches elsewhere is recommended.
8Rs for circular water and sanitation systems: leveraging circular economy thinking for safe, resilient and inclusive services
(Journal Article, 2024-12) Carrard, N.; Kumar, A.; Dao, D. V.; Kohlitz, J.; Retamal, M.; Taron, Avinandan; Neemia, N.; Willetts, J.
To achieve their normative health, environmental and social objectives, water and sanitation services must be safely managed, inclusive and climate resilient. Meeting these imperatives presents a need and opportunity for innovative thinking about water and sanitation service systems. Circular economy concepts are being applied across a multitude of product and service sectors with the aim to facilitate regenerative flows of resources. Given the dependence on water resources, associated climate risks, and the generation of reusable waste products in water and sanitation service delivery, circular economy concepts can be usefully leveraged to drive sustainability outcomes. This article contributes a heuristic in the form of a conceptual framework for applying circular economy concepts in the design and delivery of water and sanitation services in diverse Global South contexts. The framework seeks to drive multiple outcomes relevant to water and sanitation initiatives: safely managed services, social inclusion, and climate resilience. Co-developed by an international research team applying a theoretical multiplicity approach and collaborative sensemaking, the heuristic takes the form of a suite of eight adapted circular economy ‘R strategies’ for water and sanitation. The R strategies were selected and articulated to reflect theory-based principles of circular economy, climate resilience and inclusion. They are intended to prompt thinking and action in pursuit of safely managed, climate resilient, inclusive water and sanitation services that align with the broader sustainability directions that circular economy narratives aspire to. The heuristic offers a conceptually rigorous, practical tool that can support collaborative, deliberative processes to realise the potential benefits of circularity in water and sanitation service systems.
Rainfall estimation in the West African Sahel: comparison and cross-validation of top-down vs. bottom-up precipitation products in Burkina Faso
(Journal Article, 2024-08) Yonaba, R.; Belemtougri, A.; Fowe, T.; Mounirou, L. A.; Nkiaka, E.; Dembele, Moctar; Akpoti, Komlavi; Coly, S. M.; Koïta, M.; Karambiri, H.
This study compares the performance of satellite precipitation products (SPPs) and soil moisture-based rainfall products (SM2RPPs) in capturing rainfall patterns in Burkina Faso, West Africa. The findings indicate that SPPs outperform SM2RPPs at daily to annual timescales. The decomposition of total bias reveals that hit bias are dominant, but are larger in magnitude in SM2RPPs. Systematic errors are the major component of hit biases, suggesting they could be further treated through bias-correction. Wavelet analysis indicates that SPPs and SM2RPPs well capture seasonal and annual rainfall variability. All products struggle to accurately represent the most extreme rainfall indices, with SPPs performing better than SM2RPPs. For meteorological droughts, RFE2 and CHIRPS show the strongest correlations with observed SPI values across 1- to 12-month timescales. Although SM2RPPs perform less than SPPs in Burkina Faso, they appear mature for hydrometeorological applications and could further benefit from bias-correction to attain similar or better performance than SPPs.

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