Science Against Poverty Conference: Prof Chris Buckley presents the Challenges of Water and Sanitation in Southern Africa

Prof. Chris Buckley from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal was a speaker at the Science Against Poverty Conference that was held on the 8 - 9th of April in La Granja, Spain. This conference, organized by The Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the European Commission, brought together more than 200 international experts from the academia, research organizations and policy makers. The title of Prof. Chris Buckley presentation was Experiences from the South: Challenges of Water and Sanitation in Southern Africa. Follow the link for more information about the conference and the presentation.

Science Against Poverty Conference 

 

The first NEPAD Water CoE Steering Committee held at Kleine Zalze, Stellenbosch, South Africa in November 2009

The first meeting took place in Stellenbosch on 13 November 2009 to determine the general aims of the NEPAD Water CoE. These include strengthening the water researchers' network in the region, as well as capacity building projects such as the provision of bursaries for staff and postgraduate students, and technology and knowledge transfer through workshops and conferences.

At the meeting the European Commission was represented by Dr Murray Biedler, EuropeAid's programme administrator tasked with water and energy affairs, and Dr César Carmona-Moreno of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. The initiative contributes to the European Commission's goal of supporting policies on water management in developing countries across the African continent through science and technology. Mr. Bongani Maseko, Deputy Director of the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) also attended the meeting and confirmed the Department's support to this water initiative.

 

Mr Bongami Maseko of DST, Dr César Carmona-Moreno and Dr Murray Biedler of JRC

 

Water Awareness campaign  

A project to create a greater awareness of the NEPAD initiative, and more specifically the state of water in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region has been initiated. The project, essentially, will involve two volunteers who will travel through the SADC region by motorbike. They will be involved in a number of awareness events, sharing basic water treatment technologies with the local population. One of the volunteers is also a photographer. He will document the trip through South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique focusing and will capture images relating to people and water issues. The intention is to produce a book at the end of the expedition that will further raise the awareness of the importance of water as a development agent.