ILWA - Interfaces for integrated land/water resource management
The ILWA project focuses on interface zones (buffer strips and trees/crops next/relatively-close to streams/rivers/wetlands/lakes) by gathering evidence from literature, experimental sites and pilot studies in different catchments in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique and Burkina Faso.
The specific focus is laid on land-water interfaces for climate change relevant activities that contribute to a serious erosion reduction, an increase of carbon sequestration, water infiltration, water holding capacity, and ground water level, to cope with drought and floods, plus N and P management to increase water quality for human consumption, ecosystem integrity and fish production.
The project anticipates to expand the international and geographical perspective while increasing the knowledge base on:
Gender-specific, adaptive capacity on Climate Change and Food Security Status - a catchment approach to agro-forestry land-water systems;
Woody plant based restoration in the Upper Catchment of Lake Tana;
Strengthening Research and Adaptive Management of Buffer Zones in Lake Tana catchment;
Strengthening community-based research for river health and climate change mitigation in Eastern Africa; and
Rural women productive resources and their resilience to climate changes.
Project duration: 01-07-2021 to 30-09-2024 Funded by: Africa UniNet @ Oead, funded by the BMBWF Project coordinator: BOKU University Project Partner: Bahir Dar University; Amhara Region Agricultural Research Institute; Debre Tabor University; Universidade Zambeze; University of Ouahigouya; associate partner institutions Egerton University and Kyambogo University
AQUAHUB II - EDUCATION AND RESEARCH HUBS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS IN EASTERN AFRICA
The AQUAHUB II project continues the long-term commitment of the Austrian Development Cooperation towards the protection and sustainable use of lakes, rivers and wetlands 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 capacity development processes at the individual and institutional level towards the sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems in Eastern Africa. Strengthened are HEST institutions in Eastern Africa, which educate professionals, carry-out relevant research/extension activities, contribute to the development of evidence-based policies and enhance regional and international networking.
At least 68 young water/environmental professionals (at least 28 females) from primarily Eastern Africa participate in the Master’s programmes and 35 MSc research projects are carried-out. Implemented is the international joint degree Master’s programme Limnology and Wetland Management by BOKU University, EGU and IHE DELFT with 42 participants and the Eastern African joint degree Master’s programme AEEM by AAU, BDU, EIAR-NFALRC and EGU with 26 participants. At least 40 Eastern African experts from at least 15 different institutions contribute to the LWM and AEEM programmes. 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.
At least 5 collaborative research- & capacity development projects are developed and/or implemented and 40 SDG relevant contributions are delivered via MSc theses, scientific- and professional publications, projects and outreach activities.
Implemented is an impact assessment study by an independent team of experts, based on the input of at least 20 stakeholder institutions and at least 150 Eastern African professionals having attended IPGL/LWE/LWM/AEEM training programmes over the last 45 years.
Project duration: 01-11-2021 to 30-09-2024 Funded by: Austrian Development Agency Project coordinator: BOKU University Project partners: Egerton University, Addis Ababa University, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, UNESCO-IHE, Institute for Water Education
SPORT-EA - Strengthening Postgraduate Research Training in Aquatic Sciences in East Africa
The project supports and strengthens the network of East African partners around the joint MSc programme in Limnology and Wetland Management (LWM). Strengthened are MSc curricula & hands-on research training and mentored are postgraduate field research projects in Eastern Africa.
In addition to the established LWM partner institutions, the network is expanded via the collaboration with other regional universities and knowledge institutions who play a role in student research & training in Eastern Africa.
Project duration: July 2020 to 2023 Funded by: DGIS - IHE Delft Programmatic Cooperation (DUPC) Project coordinator: IHE Delft Project partner: University of Eldoret, Addis Ababa University, University of Rwanda, Egerton University and BOKU University
AQUAHUB - Education and research hub for the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems in Eastern Africa
The overall project objective is to foster the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems and to contribute towards the achievement of the SDGs. Education and research hubs are established in Eastern Africa, which educate professionals, carry-out relevant research / extension activities, contribute to the development of evidence-based policies and enhance regional and international networking.
More than 75 young water and environmental professionals (28 females and 47 males) from primarily Eastern Africa will participate in the Master’s programmes and 40 MSc research projects will be carried-out. The international joint degree Master’s programme Limnology and Wetland Management (LWM) will be implemented by BOKU University, EGU and IHE-DELFT with approximately 55 participants. The establishment and implementation of the Eastern African joint degree Master's programme Aquatic Ecosystems & Environmental Management (AEEM) by AAU, BDU, EIAR-NFALRC and EGU with approximately 20 participants is expected to strengthen the regional impact. 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 web-based AQUAHUB platform will be established as a international knowledge & networking platform and two workshops will be held to build-up an active network of at least 10 southern and northern HEST institutions with common interests towards the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems in Eastern Africa. The network is enhancing the coherence of activities and at least two new collaborative project proposals will be developed.
Finally, an impact assessment study will be conducted by an independent expert team, based on the input of at least 150 Eastern African professionals having attended various IPGL training programmes within the last 40 years. The impact assessment report should provide a comprehensive chapter on recommendations to improve the impact and further development of AQUAHUB.
African Centre of Excellence for Water Management
This project is designed to establish an African Center of Excellence for Water Management (ACEWM) in Addis Ababa University (AAU).
The objectives are
to strengthen AAU’s teaching and research capacity to train critical mass of human capacity to address national and regional water development needs in a holistic, integrative and transformative approach
to enhance the capacity of faculty and students to conduct state-of-the-art research; and produce trained scientists and engineers to support national Growth and Transformation Plan (GTPII) and regional Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
to provide training and support for the development and adoption of best-practices in teaching, research, innovation and academic management through regional and international partnerships, coupled with mobilization of African Diaspora scientists
The ACEWM will coordinate the training of a critical mass of Africans through short courses and MSc/PhD degree programs that will be supplemented by state-of-the-art laboratory techniques, field–based practical studies, and internships. ACEWM faculty and students will also engage in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research that will address African needs. These regional research efforts will be carried out in close association with ACEWM collaborators at internationally renowned universities and research institutions. ACEWM faculty and students will visit those collaborators in the USA, Europe and South Africa to engage in advanced research and training.
The Institute of Sanitary Engineering and the Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management at BOKU are collaborators of the ACEWM for water supply and sanitation, and allpied limnology, respectively.
Developing Curricula for environmental safety and biodiversity CONservation in SE Asia
CONSEA aims to ensure Biodiversity Conservation & Environmental sustainability around the Mekong basin through the development of an effective education programme at the Master and PhD levels as a collaborative effort between countries in Southeast Asia (Cambodia and Vietnam) and Europe. In this way, CONSEA seeks to support the modernization of the research and teaching in the Asian partner countries and improve skills by offering training to staff of the participating Cambodian and Vietnamese universities.
Specific objectives:
To develop/reform a best-practice curriculum of Master Degree (MS) and PhD programmes in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Environment in SEA
To educate students with essential knowledge, transferable skills and experience via the developed MS program
To improve SEA educational system through high technology teaching equipment
To transfer the best practices of Biodiversity conservation technology to Stakeholder/Managers of the environment
Internationalisation of Higher Education: International Joint Master Degree Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management
The sustainable management of water resources requires a comprehensive understanding of aquatic ecosystems and its services. The project is a direct contribution to strengthening the necessary research and education capacity in developing countries, with a focus on Eastern Africa.
The project is aligning the BOKU development/performance plan with activities/strategies of the Austrian Development Cooperation, which enables the implementation of a high-quality joint-degree Master’s programme. The "International Joint-Degree Master’s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management (LWM)" is being implemented by BOKU University, UNESCO-IHE (Netherlands) and Egerton University (Kenya).