Projects

FreshNet - NETWORK IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS IN EASTERN AFRICA

The overall project objective is to foster the sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems and to contribute towards the achievement of the SDG’s. Supported are transformation and capacity development processes at the individual and institutional level towards the sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems in Eastern Africa. Strengthened is networking among HEST institutions in Eastern Africa, which educate professionals, carry-out relevant research/extension activities, contribute to the development of evidence-based policies and enhance international networking.

At least 74 young water/environmental professionals (30 women) from primarily Eastern Africa participate in the Master’s programmes and 37 MSc research projects (17 women) are carried-out. Implemented is the international joint degree Master’s programme LWM by BOKU, EGU and IHE DELFT with 50 participants (20 women) and the Eastern African joint degree Master’s programme AEEM by AAU, BDU, EIAR-NFALRC and EGU with 24 participants (10 women). Both Master’s programme curricula put special emphasis on skill-orientated courses, student centred teaching approaches and contain inter- and transdisciplinary course elements to enhance the relevance of the programmes. The international Master's degree programmes serve as a strategic tool to intensify institutional North-South and South-South cooperation, improving the quality of educational programs and promoting transformative processes through international cooperation.

At least 100 contributions of SDG relevance are delivered via MSc theses, scientific- and professional publications, projects and outreach activities. Reviewed and extended is the AQUAHUB knowledge and networking platform to connect at least 600 registered members. At least 10 collaborative research- & capacity development projects are developed and/or implemented by project consortium members. 

Developed and implemented are measures to diversify the baseline funding of the LWM & AEEM programmes and assessed are the technical & financial implications of the further relocation of project components & tasks to African partner-institutions. Developed are options towards the formal integration of Ugandan universities and research organisations into the FreshNet network. Assessed are suitable support measures for female students & alumni and feasible measures are implemented. 

SWAQ-Uganda - Sustainable water quality management supporting Uganda’s development ambitions

Water quality challenges are major threats to human health, ecosystem health and economic development in Uganda, but inadequate data and capacity prevents effective management of water quality. The project aims to contribute to the sustainable management of water resources in Uganda, with the expected outcomes of improved knowledge and enhanced capacity in water quality management.

The project activities are structured along three output areas (OPs):

• OP1: Improving water quality monitoring and information sharing through existing data collation and monitoring;
• OP2: Developing a water quality modelling framework for Uganda, covering nationwide baseline setup and a case study; and
• OP3: Enhancing institutional capacity for water quality management to inform policy and practice.

The project is primarily targeted towards the Directorate of Water Resources Management (DWRM) of the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) of Uganda. At least 60 persons (practitioners, policymakers and researchers from Ugandan governments and universities) working in the water sector will directly benefit from the trainings on water quality related aspects.
DWRM, as an institution with an overall mandate for water resources management in Uganda, is our main target institution for the tailored institutional capacity enhancement. Other direct beneficiaries include the national and regional development partners, investors, civil society organisations and scientists. They can make use of the data and assessment report on water quality, which are main outputs of this project.
Due to the impact of water quality on human health and ecosystem services, a much larger group of indirect beneficiaries is envisioned at the impact level, namely the Ugandans who directly or indirectly suffer from water pollution.

EcoManAqua - Ecology and Management of aquatic ecosystems in Central, East and Southeast Europe

The network enhances joint teaching activities, specifically at Master and PhD level (joint supervision) and addresses challenges in ecology and management of aquatic ecosystems to achieve sustainable solutions.

Within EcoManAqua, 14 universities and 3 other institutions (research institutes, national park) from 10 countries cooperate in the following fields:

• Aquatic biodiversity and biogeochemistry;

• Environmental history;

• Ecosystem services and social ecology;

• Effects of climate change & multiple stressors;

• Restoration and conservation of aquatic ecosystems;

• Protection of species – e.g. migratory fish species such as the sturgeon species;

• Aquatic ecosystem management and sustainability; and

• New techniques and tools in assessment and monitoring of aquatic systems.