Integrated Water Resources Management in northern Namibia

Water and Sustainable Environmental Planning

Project Website:

http://www.cuvewaters.net

Project

Integrated Water Resources Management in northern Namibia – Cuvelai-Basin (CuveWaters)

Duration :

11/2006-06/2012

Second Phase starts

The implementation phase of CuveWaters starts ... more

Projectflyer

Integrated Water Resources Management in Northern Namibia – Cuvelai Delta Outline of the preliminary study

further publications .... more

Cognate project:

Integrierte Wasserressourcen-Management (IWRM)

Integrated Water Resources Management in Northern Namibia – Cuvelai-Delta (CuveWaters)

Integrated Water Resources Management in northern Namibia – Cuvelai-Basin (CuveWaters)
For countries already affected by aridity, both climate change and water shortages pose an extreme challenge which demand appropriate solutions. Especially in countries located south of the Sahara, water scarcity will become more pressing and precipitation will increasingly vary both spatially and temporally. The international research project CuveWaters aims to develop and implement an integrated water resources management (IWRM) concept to improve the living standards of the population in the Cuvelai-Etosha-Basin by implementing innovative technology options. The project focuses on strengthening the use of endogenous water resources in order to create a multi resource mix, which helps to allocate water of differing qualities from different sources for differing purposes.

The Namibian part of the Cuvelai-Basin is located in central Northern Namibia (neighbouring Angola) and consists of four sub-basins (Map). Around 50% of the population lives in this area which makes up for 15% of Namibia, one of the most arid countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The drinking water supply of the region is guaranteed by a distance pipeline system, which transports water of the Kunene River from the Namibian-Angolan border to the central North. This results in a high dependency on Angola; specifically on the economic and political developments. Surface water is only an alternative water resource during the rainy season, as this is the only time when enough of it is available. Seasonal changes of floods and droughts are prevailing. Moreover, groundwater in the region is often too saline for direct human consumption – sometimes it cannot even be used for livestock or other purposes. These natural conditions in connection with high population growth rate, population density as well as accelerating urbanisation, lead to a problematic situation with sustainable drinking water supply and the provision of sanitary facilities. To address these challenges and to reduce the dependency on Angola CuveWaters invests in a multi resource mix (e.g. rainwater harvesting, decentralised solar desalination plants, artificial groundwater recharge) to increase water productivity (water re-use, recycling of wastewater to attain water for irrigation and energy). Aim of the project is the improvement of living standards of the population by implementing innovative water supply- and waste water disposal technologies.

Transdisciplinary Integration Processes

An important precondition to reach this aim is a transdisciplinary research approach, which is based on an integration of science, technology/engineering and society. Therefore, the results of the research are relevant for both academic purposes as well as for solutions of practical problems. This transdisciplinary approach is clearly reflected in the project structure: The three scientific project modules Research and Concept Development, Empire and Technology are closely interlocked with the three integrative modules of Participation, Good Governance & Institutionalisation as well as Capacity Building, which are aimed towards social processes. In the scope of research and concept development, the workings towards a regional-economic analysis, demography/territorialisation and for a systematic analysis of the impacting factors on water management and use are in the centre of inquiry. Results of investigations concerning literature and expert interviews are a crucial part of creating scenarios. These scenarios portray the different, possible changes in the model region and will be presented to representatives of the government and the population as well as to scientific experts at a stakeholder workshop in October 2007 in Namibia (Participation). This workshop is of special importance to determine the next steps taken in due course of the module Technology.

Empiric Work

The empiric research within the project includes the evaluation of secondary material as well as the conduction of own primary surveys. These are supposed to identify the interrelation of problems in the region and to help choosing the appropriate technology options. The methods used for social-ecological surveys in the area were developed by combining elements of the "Participatory Rural Appraisal" approach with ones of empiric social research to develop a qualitative, socio-scientific interview methodology. A first survey with the Demand – Responsive Approach for Community Participation has taken place in May 2007. Based on the conducted data, a second survey took place in August 2007. The focus was put on patterns of water use as well as opinions and perceptions of user of presented technology options concerning rainwater harvesting and waster water disposal. A third survey was conducted in 2008. The results will be crucial for the further planning of the project, for example the adaptation of appropriate technology, choice of location, improvements of the institutional framework (Good Governance) and educational matters (Capacity Building).

Multi Resources Mix

The project module Technology is concerned with the inspection of innovative technology options to open up alternative water resources and to establish a multi resources mix. The mix is supposed to enable the use of different sources, kinds and qualities of water for different purposes. The current focus is on the preconditions for rainwater harvesting options, such as local building materials for storage tanks. Moreover, a workshop in joint coordination with "Deutsche MeerWassentsalzung e.V." took place in Frankfurt/Main to gain an overview of the offer in regard to small desalination plants (Workshop).

In addition, the possibilities of artificial groundwater recharge are explored and a concept of decentralised wastewater disposal is developed. The options for the implementation phase were chosen in a participatory process at a first stakeholder workshop in October 2007. The local conditions (rural/urban) were taken into account. First steps towards an embedded implementation of technology into the existing institutional and administrative processes were developed during the same workshop.

Long-term and Appropriate Implementation

To ensure the institutional coverage of an adapted IWRM concept, the module Good Governance & Institutionalisation is intended to work out the necessary legal and institutional structures. These workings plus the modules Participation and Capacity Building include important cross section functions, which are aimed towards a long term and adequate implementation of the (scientific) project results. For example, the CuveWaters project is mainly anchored into the context of the region by the module Participation. The development and implementation of the regional IWRM is to be supported by the participation of different groups of stakeholders (users, practitioner, administration, politics etc.) on a local, regional, national level. The integration of stakeholder knowledge, their interests and abilities as well as the creation of possibilities to handle present problems of water use and resources management, are central concerns. A detailed stakeholder analysis will be conducted and selective activities will be taken during the stakeholder workshop in order to support, mobilise and involve all stakeholders. The involvement of Namibian students (Bachelor, Master, PhD) is aimed to ensure the consistency of results. Moreover, this way the project contributes to Capacity Building of future policy makers. To secure the project in a Namibian IWRM context, a kick-off workshop was organised in February 2007. Representatives of science, ministries and NGOs were attending. This workshop was an important starting point for further activities in Namibia and for the project’s embedding into a Namibian overall context. More workshop activities, such as the stakeholder workshop in October 2007, are planned as an integral part of a transdisciplinary research approach until the end the first phase of the project (April 2009) to guarantee the attainability of the project aims.

Start of the second project phase

CuveWaters aims at improving living conditions via innovative and adapted water technologies and strengthening an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the Cuvelai-Etosha-Basin. Essential decisions on technology adaptation and site selection have been made together with the administration, users and other stakeholders in phase I.

In July, the second phase of CuveWaters has started, focusing on the implementation of technologies. First implementations in rural areas are scheduled for rainwater harvesting, decentralised desalination of brackish groundwater and underground water storage. For urban areas, a combination of improved sanitation on individual, cluster and community level with innovative waste water treatment is planned. Applying this concept means that waste water is used as a resource producing biogas in an anaerobic purification system, simultaneously using the effluent, purified water for irrigation and as a source of soil nutrients.

In the latest publication CuveWaters Paper No. 6 potentials of new water technologies in central north Namibia are analysed in depth by the economist Alexandra Lux and the sociologist Cedric Janowicz. CuveWaters Paper No. 4 that was done by Detlof von Oertzen and Robert Schultz (both Desert Research Foundation of Namibia) focuses on challenges that need to be addressed before village-scale desalination technologies can be introduced on a larger scale in rural Namibia. Nevertheless, the concluding summary of critical issues and suggestions for implementation processes may be of interest for other – decentral – water infrastructure types as well as for other countries and regions. In CuveWaters Paper No. 5 Namibian sociologist Wolfgang Werner discusses de jure and de facto powers of Water Point Committees over the control of access to water and land.

Press Release: The implementation phase of CuveWaters starts

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