New modelling estimates by Esther Greenwood and colleagues suggest that four billion people worldwide lack safe drinking water – double the number of people estimated in 2020. REACH Water Security Director Rob Hope gives his perspective on the new estimate and what can be done to address water safety, climate risks and data gaps.
Climate resilience
Revitalizing Stakeholder Engagement Strategies to Redress Water Security Challenges in Ethiopia
In June 2024, the International Water Management Institute convened academic institutions, private companies, NGOs, ministries, basin offices, city authorities, and research organizations to review and improve stakeholder engagement strategies in Ethiopia. Effective stakeholder engagement can help in identifying and implementing sustainable solutions, enhancing communication among stakeholders, and ensuring accountability. Read more in this blog piece from the workshop organizers.
Unravelling drought patterns using high-resolution drought datasets
Drought is a complex natural phenomenon with profound impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, water resources, and society as a whole. Understanding drought patterns and trends is crucial for effective water resource management, agricultural planning, and disaster preparedness. In this blog, Dr Solomon Gebrechorkos and Prof. Simon Dadson explore the journey of developing and utilizing high-resolution drought datasets to unlock insights into drought dynamics at local and regional scales.
Water scarcity forcing rural Kenyan women to devise coping mechanisms
In the past few years, most women and youths in Kilifi County have struggled with access to water for diverse activities due to climate change, limited networks, and income. Thus, access to and use of water is often negotiated and shaped by intrahousehold dynamics and government institutions. While women tasked to provide water for their families create networks to sustain access to water and diversify water sources. men move out for better jobs, and youths take up commercial water provision roles.
Pouring hope or pouring doubt – Navigating the aftermath of disasters in coastal Bangladesh
Cyclones and storm surges regularly damage infrastructure in southwest Bangladesh. Afsana Afrin Esha describes how her current research focus is informed by REACH fieldwork to understand how different drinking water technologies are affected.
Policy-makers meet to advance the water security agenda in Kenya
On October 27th, REACH Kenya welcomed Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Hon. Zachariah Njeru, as the opening speaker at the National Stakeholder Forum on Climate Resilience and Water Security. Governors from Kitui, Marsabit...
Reliable water and hygiene services for Health Care Facilities in Kitui County, Kenya
Cliff Nyaga, University of Oxford In rural Kenya, Health Care Facilities (HCFs), specifically dispensaries and clinics, provide lifesaving care for millions of people living in remote villages. These areas are characterised by low population densities and high poverty...
Exit Strategy – sustaining and scaling water security impacts for the poor beyond 2024
After nine years of collective research on water security by over 50 global partners the REACH programme is due to close in 2024. While we are on track to meet the target of providing 10 million poor people with improved water security, this is a fragile outcome. We...
Groundwater for climate resilience in the Horn of Africa
Florence Tanui (University of Nairobi), Behailu Birhanu (Addis Ababa University), Dan Olago (University of Nairobi), Seifu Kebede (University of KwaZulu Natal) The Horn of Africa is experiencing extreme climate shocks and grappling with the need to plan for an...
The future of sustainable water resources management: integrating new technologies with the wisdom of the people
Congratulations to Dr Behailu Birhanu, a researcher in groundwater management from the REACH team at Addis Ababa University, who was awarded the best oral presentation at the International Conference on Water Resources Management and Sustainability: Solutions for Arid Regions earlier this year. In this piece Dr Behailu reflects on key takeaways from the conference, held in person in Dubai.
