A global research programme to improve water security for millions of vulnerable people in Asia and Africa.
The REACH programme ran from January 2015 to March 2025.
Featured Resources
REACH themes
Building capacity for climate resilience
Reducing inequalities in water security
Improving water quality management
Strengthening institutions for water security
Where we work
BANGLADESH, ETHIOPIA, KENYA
Our research focused on fragile states in Africa and South Asia, regions where water security challenges are greatest and poverty most acute. We set up ‘Water Security Observatories’ in Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Kenya to implement in-depth interdisciplinary research on water security and poverty.
Research
BUILDING EVIDENCE FOR THE LINKS BETWEEN WATER SECURITY AND POVERTY
Our research adopted an innovative, interdisciplinary, risk-based approach, looking at water security risks and poverty reduction across three themes: resource sustainability, inclusive services and sustainable growth. Evidence from our research is helping guide investment and design policies and practices to benefit vulnerable people around the world.
How we work
A GLOBAL SCIENCE-PRACTITIONER PARTNERSHIP
We partnered with UNICEF global, regional and country offices to make sure that our science informs their programmes of work and changes lives. UNICEF has over 100 offices worldwide and a global mandate to improve water supply, sanitation and hygiene for the poor.
Partnership Funding
EXTENDING OUR RESEARCH PROGRAMME
REACH funded additional research and capacity building partnerships with other practitioners, enterprises and researchers passionate about water security and poverty reduction in Africa and South Asia. During the course of the programme we made a number of calls for research to support our core programme.
Water Security 2023
‘WITHIN REACH’ INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN OXFORD
Our final programme conference took place place on 20-22 September, 2023.
