IPCC: “Increased precipitation intensities have enhanced groundwater recharge, most notably in tropical regions (medium confidence)”

Eight UPGro papers have been cited in the new IPCC Working Group Report (August 2021) As widely reported, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has laid out a stark warning on the threat of climate change across the…

New groundwater maps reveal interesting patterns about water security in Africa that could help it adapt to climate change

Reserves of groundwater in much of the populated parts of Africa are being replenished at rates that could help to protect communities against the damaging effects of climate change and sustain widespread groundwater pumping for drinking water, a new study…

UPGro Impact: Designing roads for groundwater recharge and erosion control is expanding across Ethiopia and being introduced in Uganda and Kenya [D1]

Road runoff is a major problem in the tropics because heavy rainfall can lead to rapid soil erosion, which causes multiple problems. An UPGro catalyst project turned the problem into a solution by testing new road drainage designs in Tigray,…

UPGro Science: Numerical groundwater models can be used to assess the sustainability of different groundwater scenarios to inform groundwater management and planning [S14]

Possible responses, such as infrastructure investment, improved groundwater monitoring and management, introduction of drought-resilient crops, and focus on environmental management, were identified to help mitigate the impacts.

UPGro Science: Bacteriological contamination of groundwater is likely to be a significant barrier to achieving safely managed water services under SDG6, but this can be tackled by improved construction practices [S7]

In rural areas, around 70% of working handpumps surveyed across in Uganda, Malawi and Ethiopia provided good quality water, with only 9% affected by chemical contamination (fluoride, arsenic, nitrate). 21% were affected by bacteriological contamination

New pollution risk maps for Africa to help with achieving safe water for everyone

Media Release: World Water Day 22 March New pollution risk maps for Africa to help with achieving safe water for everyone. Responding to UNICEF/WHO report on Safely managed drinking water The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health…

Data farming – how Ethiopian farmers harvest data to help their crops

What’s the weather doing? It’s a question that obsesses many but for many Ethiopians it is question that makes the difference between plenty and destitution.  Ethiopia is a rich and diverse country that is home to around 100 million people,…

Roads for Water – new research puts Ethiopian farmers in the driving seat

Media Release World Water Day is an opportunity to reflect on the immense challenge that faces millions of people every day. Much of Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, is notably off-track from the Millennium Development Goals[i], which come to an end…