Background
In Namibia, the most arid country South of the
Sahara, the central northern region is the most densely populated area, with
42 % of the Namibian population living in the region. Seasonal alterations
of drought and heavy rainfall, mostly saline groundwater, lack of permanent
rivers and climate change make the water supply for the population as well
as water management difficult. An annual population growth of 2.1 %, high
population density and ongoing urbanisation, missing sanitation facilities
and soil degradation cause severe stress for the ecological system.
Based on a
feasibility study, the joint research project CuveWaters aims to further the
conceptual development and practical implementation of an integrated water
resources management (IWRM) that is embedded in existing processes and adapted
to specific natural, political, social and economic conditions. General task is
to optimise water allocation between various sectors and to consider
interlinkages between water utilisation and use of other resources like land,
energy and nutrients with the help of knowledge management, transfer and
adaptation of technologies as well as participation. Objective is to secure and
to develop endogenous resource potentials of the region.
In the CuveWaters research project the integration of science, technology and
society into a transdisciplinary research and development process is an
essential part. Research results are meant to contribute to the solution of
practical problems for actors and to scientific progress.
Workshop activities as an integral part of the transdisciplinary research
approach will play an important role to support achieving project’s objectives.
Stakeholder workshops will take place at regular intervals;
the first one was held
in Oshakati, Namibia, October 2007.
The developed IWRM concept will be analysed concerning its implications
and influence beyond the immediate regional application, both in terms of
the neighbouring regions of the South African Development Community (SADC)
and in terms of its possible transfer to other regions that experience
analogous problems.
Press Release: Funding of CuveWaters II granted - Implementation phase is
ready to start pdf, 27 kb
Contact: cuvewaters@isoe.de
Project start: November 2006
Funding:
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
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