GroundWater SuStainable and Equitable development uNder Constraints of Ecosystem conservation and saltwater intrusion prevention in large deltas project (GWS-SENCE)
The IHE Delft received a grant to fund the third phase of the Partnership Programme for Water and Development (DUPC3) from the development cooperation agency of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS). This third phase of the strategic partnership with the Ministry intends to promote and catalyse the long-lasting changes significantly to water management practices in low- and middle-income countries that are both socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable. In addition, the programme will launch various scientific, educational, and capacity-building programmes, particularly in partnership with organisations in the program's priority regions, including the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, and the Middle East. The program's overall budget is 46 million euros and will last for six and a half years (mid-2021 to end-2027). Kenya, Nigeria and Egypt are the partner counties representing specific, focused regions.
The project seeks to advance groundwater research in coastal deltas, including the Niger delta (Rivers State, Nigeria), Nile delta (Sharkia Governorate, Egypt) and Tana delta (Lamu, Kenya), and is being carried out by a research consortium from Kenya, Nigeria and Egypt. This is in line with the strategy of IHE Delft, as well as priority areas of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the theme "river basins and deltas". This theme focuses on creating viable pathways to more secure, equitable, and ecologically sustainable governance and management of (transboundary) river basins and delta regions, including coastal areas and aquifers.
In view of the above mandate, the core strategy of the project will include collaboration with inter- and transdisciplinary partners to address critical water issues in the coastal regions. It also seeks to promote open and inclusive dialogue among and between water stakeholders to protect and optimise the use of groundwater resources and dependent ecosystems (and services) within a vulnerable context of growing water demand, rising sea levels and the prevalence of droughts. Therefore, an overarching theme has been established "Ground Water SuStainable and Equitable development uNder Constraints of Ecosystem conservation and saltwater intrusion prevention in large deltas (GWS-SENCE) in all three countries.
Following a series of online meetings between partner countries from the proposal development phase to the funding award, the first inception workshop was held on 15-16th August 2022. The Kenya partners met at the Wangari Maathai Institute of Peace and Environmental Studies, while other countries were featured online for inclusive discussions. The workshop brought together partners in Kenya from the University of Nairobi, Technical University of Kenya, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Water Resources Authority, Regional Centre on Groundwater Resources Education, Training and Research, Kenya Water Institute, and a consultant hydrogeologist. The workshop agenda was to have in-depth discussions of the inception phase activities across countries, develop the presentation of baseline information, and develop workplans for the project.