This discussion document draws on perspectives of researchers, research users from government and UN agencies, and funders, to reflect on the enabling environment that funders and universities can create to support the translation of research into impact. Areas for funders to focus on to strengthen enabling environments include (1) fostering science-practitioner networks, (2) enhancing collaborative research environments based on equitable partnerships, and (3) shifting financing and incentives to sustain partnerships for impact at scale.
2024
Improving water security through a Science-Practitioner Partnership with UNICEF
UNICEF has been a global, regional and national partner with REACH since 2015. A science-practitioner partnership was one of three foundations informing REACH’s work to improve water security for millions of poor people in Africa and Asia. The partnership aimed to...
Policy and practice recommendations on flood risk management in the Awash basin
In 2020, extreme rainfall triggered massive flooding and severe damage to property in Ethiopia’s Awash river basin. The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) examined climatic and non-climatic drivers of this event and its impacts on different social groups. Recommended action points for practitioners and policy makers include institutional design for coordinated flood management and response, collaboration on operational guidance and improved early warning system, revision of studies based on recent science and data, improving access to data for researchers and research-users, integration of indigenous knowledge into flood risk preparedness and research, and strengthening of Awash-flood related research in Ethiopia’s university and higher education institutions. Gender-responsive interventions to flooding are critical.
Hydrologic Extremes in a Changing Climate: a Review of Extremes in East Africa
This review presents recent research on drivers and typologies of climate extremes across different East African geographies. Droughts and floods remain the major challenges of the region. There are improvements in forecasting these extremes, but further research is required to improve understanding of key drivers and improve information provision for risk-based decision-making.
Story of Change: Building the next generation of water security leaders
The REACH programme is committed to supporting career development by Early Career Researchers, half of whom are women. 60% of first authors in peer reviewed publications from the REACH programme are ECRs. ECRs play key and active roles in research dissemination and policy engagement across the REACH focus countries. ECRs transitioning to leadership roles will facilitate and sustain REACH programme impact through their policy and practice networks, and increase women’s leadership in the sector.
Evaluating the structures and arrangements of water institutions to include in-stream modeling for water quality management and control pollution: Insights from the Awash Basin, Ethiopia
In sub-Saharan regions, human activities are causing stream water quality to decline. This study assesses stream water quality issues in the Awash Basin of Ethiopia, identifying key sources of land-based pollutants. Applicable models with the capability of simulating the Awash streams are presented, and recommendations towards improved use of water quality modelling for development planning by Awash Basin institutions are made.
Information synthesis to identify water quality issues and select applicable in-stream water quality model for the Awash River basin in Ethiopia: A perspective from developing countries
In-stream water quality models can help prepare effective planning strategies to tackle problems with stream water quality and understand pollutant dynamics in stream systems. In this study, water quality issues in the Awash Basin were reviewed to select an applicable in-stream model to support local model practitioners in creating improvement in water quality management. QUAL2KW and INCA models are found more applicable for the present conditions, while the WASP model may be useful to conduct detailed analysis.
Opportunities to advance water safety through regulation of rural water services
Despite improved access to water supply systems globally, safe drinking water continues to limit progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6.1. In particular, there is a disparity between access to uncontaminated water in rural and urban areas, with the former significantly lagging behind. In this discussion paper, researchers and practitioners in rural drinking water provision, management and regulation from Bangladesh, Kenya, England and Wales identify key aspects to advance regulation for rural drinking water services.
Story of Change: Sustainable management of sedimentation risks in coastal rivers in southwest Bangladesh
1.3 million people in Coastal Bangladesh are impacted by severe waterlogging due to riverbed sedimentation. This Story of Change presents work by a research team from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) to characterize hydrodynamic processes and sediment transport dynamics in the area, with potential implications for different types of interventions. Recommendations include increasing freshwater flows by restoring upstream river-river and river-floodplain connectivity and reducing “repeated dredging” of the same area.
