WHATER

"Water Harvesting Technologies Revisited: Potentials for Innovations, Improvements and Upscaling in Sub-Saharan Africa"

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The WHaTeR project aims to contribute to the development of appropriate water harvesting techniques (WHTs). These WHTs should be sustainable under dynamic global and regional pressure, and strengthen rainfed agriculture, improve rural livelihood and increase food production and security in Sub-Saharan Africa. In total 3 European and 5 African organisations will be involved; namely VU University Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Newcastle University (United Kingdom), Stockholm Resilience Centre (Sweden), University of Kwazulu Natal (South Africa), Sokoine University (Tanzania), Southern and Eastern Africa Rainwater Network (Kenya), National Institute for Environment and Agricultural Research (Burkina Faso) and Arba Minch University (Ethiopia). Project activities will be divided over 14 Work Packages. The first Work Package covers project management and the second comprises a situation analysis - through revisits to water harvesting sites in 15 African countries studied previously by participating organisations . The next four Work Packages focus on detailed research and technology development activities on cross-cutting themes (environmental sustainability; technology development; livelihood improvement; uptake and upscaling; and global and regional impact) and will be conducted together with four country-based Work Packages (in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, South Africa and Tanzania). One Work Package will concentrate on stakeholder communication and outreaching activities, and the final Work Packages consists of synthesis and dissemination of project results, inclduing production of guidelines for WHTs. The project will spend an estimated 74% of the budget on RTD, 13% on other costs related to stakeholder workshops and outreaching and 13% on project management. The expected impacts of the project comprise technology support for farmers, development of stakeholder communication networks, innovative water harvesting systems, tools for impact assessment, upstream-downstream land use, and policy support for integrated water management and adaptation to climate change to promote EU and African strategies on strengthening rainfed agriculture, food security and livelihoods.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An Africa-EU research partnership has looked into ways that African farmers can improve agricultural productivity through improved water harvesting technology (WHT).

Descrizione progetto (Article)

WHTs increase productivity and food security while minimising erosion and enhancing soil moisture conditions. In areas like sub-Saharan Africa, rainwater harvesting is a particularly important way to help agriculture and rural development, thus alleviating poverty and hunger.

A consortium of African and European institutions has contributed to this field of research through the EU-funded project http://whater.eu/ (WHATER) (Water harvesting technologies revisited: Potentials for innovations, improvements and upscaling in sub-Saharan Africa). Case studies in four African countries were used to define WHT guidelines across environmental and economic boundaries.

Scientists began by revisiting study sites in 10 African countries to evaluate knowledge gaps and current needs. Revisiting old sites showed that WHT developments were substantial and a new respect for rainwater harvesting had emerged in Africa. However, WHTs differed from region to region and attempts at mechanisation were mostly unsuccessful.

Researchers found a need for better quantification of the WHT performance, impact on livelihoods and downstream effects. It is also important to understand the impact of subsidies and to define the policies that enable uptake and implementation of WHTs.

Investment in WHTs in rural farming areas may pay off by encouraging subsistence farmers to grow cash crops. In general, WHATER found that it is important to address financial constraints to encourage farmers to adopt WHTs.

WHATER results are expected to improve uptake of the most promising WHTs by making sure they address the needs of local people. Increasing the sustainability of rain-fed agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa will contribute to food security and poverty alleviation across the continent.