Water is Life: Amazzi Bulamu

Water is Life Amazzi Bulamu

Water is Life: Amazzi Bulamu

Ms. Arleen FolanProject Manager, WIL

School of Health & Science, DkIT

9th November 2010

“The value of partnerships and collaboration -

everybody can make a contribution”

Water is Life Amazzi Bulamu Overview

Uganda – water related facts & field site location

Background & goal of project Main activities Research projects Organisation of project & levels of

engagement GIS database Impacts of project on community


Water is Life - the background:Water is Life - the background:

DkIT – long standing relationship with the DkIT – long standing relationship with the MMMs in MakondoMMMs in Makondo

School of Health & ScienceSchool of Health & Science

Centre for Freshwater Studies Centre for Freshwater Studies

40 billion40 billion working hours are spent carrying working hours are spent carrying water each year in Africawater each year in Africa

Households in rural Africa spend an Households in rural Africa spend an average of average of 26%26% of their time fetching of their time fetching water – high female burdenwater – high female burden

WaterAid WaterAid

443 million443 million school days are lost each year school days are lost each year due to water-related diseasesdue to water-related diseases

UNESCOUNESCO

At any one time, At any one time, halfhalf of the developing of the developing world's hospital beds are occupied by world's hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from water-related patients suffering from water-related

diseasesdiseases

UNUN

20072007 Networking grant awarded to Networking grant awarded to DkIT (10K) DkIT (10K)

20082008 Potential partners identified Potential partners identified Southern & NorthernSouthern & Northern



Funded by Irish Aid/HEA Programme for Strategic Co-operation

Multi-disciplinary projectGoal of this programme - to build research capacity in Ireland and Africa

Water is Life - 5 year programme – 2008 to 2013

Large numbers of partners – both Southern and Northern, HEIs, MMM Resource Centre , Makondo and NGOs

Water is Life


Main activitiesDevelop appropriate activities in the area of water resource sustainability & monitor its effects on community health, gender & poverty through a combination of 8 PhD research projects & community engagement

Support research with a “water-centred” focus;Examine water sourcing, distribution & sanitation;Assess impact of safe water provision on community & health & gender;

Engage community interest & support; Generation and provision of an appropriate GIS database; and,Ultimately inform a jointly developed taught Masters degree programme (Ireland/Uganda).

Technical Social

Economic

Water



My background

• Education – B.A. Economic, H. dip

• Experience –

More than 10 years experience of managing projects based in developing countries or economies in transition

• Africa –

First visited Africa in 1997 (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Zanzibar)

• Motivation (on this project)– To make a difference to the lives of rural community in Uganda


Multiple Levels of Engagement required

• Academic –

Educators, University Officers & Managers, Potential & Current Postgraduate Students, Undergraduates, Second Level Students

• Government –

Ministry Level (Health, Education primarily) – Ministers & Officials, Local Government Officials

• Community –

Citizens, Community Workers

• Policy Influencers –

Professional Bodies & Training Bodies (North & South), NGOs, Funding Agencies


PhD research projects

1. Sourcing & distribution of sustainable groundwater supplies for rural water supply (DkIT/TCD/MUK)

2. Sustainable pump technologies (DkIT/DCU/MUK)

3. Solar disinfection of drinking water (RCSI/DCU/MUK)

4. Health impact of SODIS using a school- based trial protocol (RCSI/DCU/MUK)

5. Water & water management needs: social & health impacts on women & their children (DCU/DkIT/MUK)

6. Adaptation of water management to climate change (NUIM/MUK)

7. The social impact of gendering water resource management (NUIM/MUK)

8. Understanding cooperation & conflict in local water governance (DCU/MUK)


GIS database


Help to identify: The villages with most health issues, If these issues are related to water

sources Whether there is any correlation

between the distance travelled to water sources and the health of the women and children?

The percentages of the population without access to clean water

Recommended travel distance – for future management etc.

Applications of GIS to NGOs:


On the local community: Knowledge transfer Empowerment (through knowledge) Greater understanding of water &

appreciation of water quality issues Recognition of women and men’s

participation in decision making on water

Sensitization on sanitation and hygiene (SODIS)

Increased community demand for downward accountability from service providers in the water sector

Impacts of this project


www.dkit.ie/waterislife

Documents

Water is Life: Amazzi Bulamu