Steps

The project design of CuveWaters reflects the transdisciplinary research approach: scientific components Research and Concept Development, Technology and Empirical Studies, which are closely connected to societal processes such as Participation, Good Governance & Institutionalisation and Capacity Building.

The working area ‘Research and Concept Development’ aims to develop a scientifically based and technologically supported concept for the implementation of an IWRM that is adapted to the regional conditions. ‘Empirical Studies’ (primary and secondary surveys) identify the most urgent problems related to water in the model region as well as potential sites for technology implementation. The establishment of alternative water sources and the creation of the availability of a multi-resource mix, i.e. water from different sources and of unequal quality used for different purposes, are approached in the working area ‘Technology’. The project identifies viable and innovative technological options, which are adapted to the regional condition of the model region such as rainwater harvesting, decentralised solar desalination processes, artificial recharge of groundwater, use of wastewater as a source for the generation of energy, mineral nutrients and humus. Technologies to be implemented are selected in a participatory process. The selected technologies are integrated into the institutional and administrative process of resource management as well as into social, economic and ecological conditions of water use. In the working area ‘Good Governance & Institutionalisation’ permanent legal institutional structures that ensure the implementation of IWRM are promoted. To embed the CuveWaters project into the context on site, the working area ‘Participation’ serves to integrate stakeholders of different groups (users, professionals, politicians) and different levels (national, regional, local) in the development and implementation of the regionally adapted IWRM. In the working area ’Capacity Building’ awareness raising of water related issues is carried out on local, regional and national level. Knowledge transfer for administration and institutional actors, scientists as well as citizens is provided and national and bi-national policy dialogue initiated.

Stakeholder workshops will take place at regular intervals; the first one was held in Oshakati, Namibia, October 2007.