SASSCAL – Water-related vulnerabilities and risk in Southern Africa
The project team is analysing to what extent water-related vulnerabilities and risks for the population and ecosystems are developing within the context of global change and how these might conceivably be reduced.
Research approach
Many natural and social processes mutually influence water resources in the southern part of Africa. Climate change and changes in land use, as well as population and economic growth act as localised forms of global change on the current and future state of the resource and as such influence people’s living conditions.
The project team is developing a vulnerability and risk analysis for the catchment area of the Cuvelai-Basin in northern Namibia and southern Angola. First the ‘status quo’ and expected trends in patterns of water demand are being studied, differentiated according to spatial and social characteristics and with the help of social-empirical surveys, consultations with experts and mapping. Using this as a starting point, researchers calculate water demand and availability in order to discover the water supply’s vulnerabilities and risks for the population and ecosystems. The aim is to identify areas of relevance for decision-makers which are particularly threatened by supply gaps and their consequences (hot spot areas).
Next the researchers will be developing supportive measures for an adapted and integrated management of water resources. In order to do this, they visualise information with the help of user-friendly maps and make recommendations on how to act to minimise vulnerabilities and risks. A model-based approach allows them to analyse and assess the effect of alternative options of action. By extrapolating the methods developed in this way to other regions, similar research, as well as results that help support decision-making, is to be made possible there too. In addition to this ongoing work, further activities in the field of decision-making support and in developing sustainable urban water infrastructure systems are being planned.
Background
In 2009, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) launched the initiative "Climate change and adaptive land management in Africa“ with the aim of establishing a long-term research infrastructure in Africa through regional centres of competence (see preliminary stage). ISOE is involved in setting up the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (or: SASSCAL), whose planned radius extends to Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa. Currently, our primary focus lies in various topics related to Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM).
Partners in Germany
- Universität Hamburg (management and coordination of SASSCAL)
- German Aerospace Center (DLR)
- Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz University of Hannover, Institute for Environmental Economics and World Trade
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Centre for Materials and Coastal Research GmbH (HZG)
- Philipps-University of Marburg
- University of Bremen
Funding
The initiative „SASSCAL – Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management“ is being funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Publications
Lütkemeier, Robert/Stefan Liehr (2019): Integrated responses to drought risk in Namibia and Angola. Watersolutions (3), 56-61
Lütkemeier, Robert/Stefan Liehr (2019): Integrated responses to drought risk in Namibia and Angola. ISOE Policy Brief, 6. Frankfurt am Main: ISOE - Institut für sozial-ökologische Forschung
de Clercq, Willem/Jörg Helmschrot/Marlene de Witt/Thomas Himmelsbach/Piet Kenabatho/Sven Kralisch/Stefan Liehr/Lopes Ferreira Baptista/Oarabile Mogobe/Pauline Mufeti/Inken Müller/Imasiku Nyambe/Henry M. Sichingabula/Amandio Teixeira-Pinto/Gabriela J.P. Teixeira Pires/Martin Hipondoka/Heike Wanke (2018): Water research in southern Africa: Data collection and innovative approaches towards climate change adaptation in the water sector. In: Revermann, Rasmus/Kristin M. Krewenka/Ute Schmiedel/Jane M. Olwoch/Jörg Helmschrot/Norbert Jürgens (Ed.): Climate change and adaptive land management in southern Africa - assessment, changes, challenges, and solutions. Biodiversity & Ecology, 6. Göttingen & Windhoek: Klaus Hess Publishers, 54-65
Lütkemeier, Robert (2018): Households at Risk. Integrated Assessment of Drought Hazard and Social Vulnerability in the Cuvelai-Basin of Angola and Namibia. Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades (Dr.rer.nat.) der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn. Bonn, 223
Lütkemeier, Robert/Johanna Kramm/Stefan Liehr (2018): Living in the 'hottest room' of hothouse Earth. How a multi-resources-mix can reduce drought risk in Namibia. Water Solutions (3), 82-86
Lütkemeier, Robert/Stefan Liehr (2018): Drought sensitivity in the Cuvelai Basin: empirical analysis of seasonal water and food consumption patterns.In: Revermann, Rasmus/Kristin M. Krewenka/Ute Schmiedel/Jane M. Olwoch/Jörg Helmschrot/Norbert Jürgens (Ed.): Climate change and adaptive land management in southern Africa - assessment, changes, challenges, and solutions. Biodiversity & Ecology, 6. Göttingen & Windhoek: Klaus Hess Publishers, 160-167
Lütkemeier, Robert/Lina Stein/Lukas Drees/Hannes Müller/Stefan Liehr (2018): Uncertainty of Rainfall Products: Impact on Modelling Household Nutrition from Rain-Fed Agriculture in Southern Africa. Water 10 (4), 499
Taubenböck, Hannes/Inken Müller/Christian Geiß/Robert Lütkemeier (2018): Risk management - a conceptual foundation. In: Revermann, Rasmus/Kristin M. Krewenka/Ute Schmiedel/Jane M. Olwoch/Jörg Helmschrot/Norbert Jürgens (Ed.): Climate change and adaptive land management in southern Africa - assessment, changes, challenges, and solutions. Biodiversity & Ecology, 6. Göttingen & Windhoek: Klaus Hess Publishers, 132-135
Kampfl, Sarah/Robert Lütkemeier/Stefan Liehr (2017): Impact of Household Decisions on Grazing Pressure in Northern Namibia. Modelling Approach for Sustainable Livestock Management. SASSCAL NEWS 2 (2), 13-14
Lütkemeier, Robert/Lina Stein/Lukas Drees/Stefan Liehr (2017): Blended Drought Index: Integrated Drought Hazard Assessment in the Cuvelai-Basin.Climate 5 (3), 51
Lütkemeier, Robert/Lina Stein/Lukas Drees/Stefan Liehr (2017): Drought in the Cuvelai-Basin. Integrated Tool for Drought Hazard Assessment.SASSCAL NEWS 2 (3), 12-13
Lütkemeier, Robert/Stefan Liehr (2015): Impact of drought on the inhabitants of the Cuvelai watershed: A qualitative exploration. In: Andreu, Joaquin/Abel Solera/Javier Paredes-Arquiola/David Haro-Monteagudo/Henny van Lanen (Ed.): Drought - Research and Science-Policy Interfacing. 10.-13.03.2015, Valencia. London: Taylor & Francis Group, 41-48
Duration
Contact person
Project team
Topic
Related projects
- Assessment of the potential for the use of service water in Frankfurt am Main
- Application platform for an automated forecasting of the daily water demand in Hamburg
- AQUA-Hub India – Water Innovation Hubs and Smart Water Monitoring
- AquaticPollutantsTransNet – Knowledge transfer for the reduction of pollutants and pathogens in the water cycle
- Accompanying research for groundwater development at the site “Heiliger Born”
- BioFAVOR II – Low-tech recycling of faeces from decentralised sources
- CapTain Rain – Capture and retain heavy rainfalls in Jordan
- CuveWaters – Sustainable Water Management in Namibia
- Efficient Use of the Hessian Groundwater Fee
- Eliminating micropollutants in sewage plants
- EPoNa – Water Reuse in Northern Namibia
- Evaluation of the International Water Stewardship Program (IWaSP)
- GeisTreich – Geisenheim Transfer Program for Biodiverse and Multifunctional Viticulture
- gwTriade – Integrative monitoring of groundwater quality
- HypoWave – New Pathways Towards Wastewater Re-Use in Agriculture
- HypoWave+ – Implementation of a hydroponic system for sustainable water reuse in agriculture
- INTAFERE – Integrated Analysis of Organic Impurities in Rivers
- IWRM in Isfahan – Sustainable Water Management in Iran
- IntenKS – Improving sewage sludge treatment in China for energetic and material utilisation
- INTERESS-I – Integrated strategies to strengthen urban blue-green infrastructures
- Classification of consumption points in the supply area of HAMBURG WASSER
- Competence Atlas Water – Water Technologies and Water Management in Hesse
- KREIS – Innovative municipal wastewater system in ‘Jenfelder Au’
- Guiding principle IWRM – Water resources management for the metropolitan region of Rhine-Main
- LIMO – Land Use and Integrated Modelling
- LiveSewer – KI-basiertes Abwassermonitoring
- Privatisation and Competition in Drinking Water Supply in Germany
- Master Plan “Future-proof Drinking Water Supply in Saarland 2040”
- MORE STEP – Mobility at Risk: Sustaining the Mongolian Steppe Ecosystem (Phase I)
- MORE STEP – Mobility at Risk: Sustaining the Mongolian Steppe Ecosystem (Phase II)
- MULTI-ReUse – Modular treatment system for water reuse
- Sustainability Performance in the Water Supply
- NaCoSi – Sustainability controlling of the domestic water management
- NamTip: Desertification in drylands – a Namibian tipping point (pre-phase)
- NamTip: Understanding and Managing Desertification Tipping Points – A Namibian Perspective
- NamTip: Socio-ecological tipping points of desertification in Namibia in the context of climate change (2nd phase)
- netWORKS – Transformations in Network Related Infrastructure Sectors
- netWORKS 2 – Transformation Management for a Sustainable Water Infrastructure
- netWORKS 3 – Sustainable concepts for the municipal water sector
- netWORKS 4 – Resilient networks: how urban supply systems contribute to climate justice
- netWORKS 4 – Resilient networks: Contributions of urban supply systems to climate justice (follow-up project)
- New perspectives for the ecological restoration of streams and rivers
- NiddaMan – Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Nidda Catchment Area
- OPTIMASS – Sustainable Management of Savanna Ecosystems
- ORYCS – Wildlife-based management strategies in Namibia
- P-Net – Regional network for resource-efficient phosphorus recycling and management
- PlaNE – Planetary Health and Sustainable Nutrition
- PLASTRAT – Reduction of plastic discharges in lakes and running waters
- PlastX – Microplastics in bodies of running water
- PlastX – Plastic waste in seas and oceans
- Privatisation in the Water Sector
- Stormwater Infiltration in Wiesbaden
- Regional Sustainability in Water and Land Use
- regulate – Sustainable Groundwater Management in Europe
- SASSCAL – Research Infrastructure in Africa
- SAUBER+ Innovative concepts for wastewater from public health sector facilities
- SCIP Plastics – Strengthening Waste Prevention in Khulna and Reducing Marine Plastic Pollution
- Semizentral – Infrastructure systems for cities of the future experiencing rapid growth
- Smart Water Future India: Intelligent Water Management for India’s Cities
- SoCuLa – Socio-cultural Drivers of Biodiversity Change in Germany
- start – Management Strategies for Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water
- start2 – Management Strategies for Hormonally Active Agrochemicals
- Material flows of environmentally relevant chemical substances: product line controlling
- Structural concept for Trinkwasserversorgung Magdeburg
- TransRisk – Pollutants as a risk to the water cycle
- TRAPA India – Transition pathways for solving urban wastewater problems in Indian cities
- Daily drinking water demand – forecast model for Hamburg
- Environmental Risks and Pharmaceuticals: The Key Role of Pharmacies
- Water 2050 – Sustainable Innovations for Water Management
- Water demand forecast 2030 (base year 2005) for Hamburg
- Water demand forecast 2045 (base year 2011) for Hamburg
- Water demand forecast 2050 (base year 2017) for Hamburg
- Water demand forecast 2050 (base year 2019) for the WBV Harburg
- Water demand forecast 2050 (base year 2020) for Hamburg
- Water Cycle an Urban-Ecological Development
- Proxies and Scenarios for the Development of Water Demand
- Weschnitz Dialog: Communication and participation in the management of restoration measures along the river Weschnitz
- Scientific accompanying of the 2021 survey on water consumption in Hamburg
- Wissenschaftliche Begleitung des Projekts „Smartes Wassermanagement“ in Frankfurt
- The current and future state of our water resources