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Capacity development key to Water Action Agenda progress
Capacity development is key to taking action to fulfil the more than 800 commitments that form the Water Action Agenda, IHE Delft Rector Eddy Moors told participants in the Water Action Agenda Symposium, held 24 April. The hybrid event attracted more than 130 participants interested in the voluntary commitments made as part of the Water Action Agenda, which was launched during the 2023 UN Water Conference. Participants at the Symposium reflected on the progress of the implementation of the commitments, shared experiences and perspectives and underlined the need for further action.
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Drought protection: Ancient technique to mitigate shifting sands documented for future generations
People in the Sistan region of Iran have been using an indigenous technique, called ‘Teng’, to mitigate the effects of sand storms for centuries. The strategically placed interwoven tamarisk branches redirect shifting sands away from settlements, preventing villages and agricultural land from becoming buried. The practice dates back to prehistory but now risks getting lost. Research by IHE Delft MSc student Mohammadreza Jehkeh has earned recognition for preserving this nature-based solution for future generations.
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Sida Liu earns PhD for research on groundwater depletion in Beijing
On 25 April, Sida Liu from China has successfully defended her PhD thesis on remediating groundwater depletion in the Beijing Plain, and has been awarded a doctoral. Her promotor is Michael McClain and her co-promotor Yangxiao Zhou.
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Dutch emergency team assists with Kazakhstan floods – an interview with Fredrik Huthoff
After two weeks of massive flooding at the beginning of April, Kazakhstan requested assistance from the Dutch government. The Dutch Disaster Risk Reduction and Surge Support (DRRS) team called up water experts from various disciplines to help alleviate the emergency situation in the Central Asian country. IHE Delft Associate Professor Fredrik Huthoff flew to Astana to lead the emergency response.
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Community-led action boosts water security on Maldivian outer islands
With their white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters, it's natural to envision life on the islands of the Maldives as an aquatic paradise nestled in the Indian Ocean. But this paradise comes with challenges. Drinkable water, despite the seemingly water-abundant environment, is in short supply, particularly on the small, remote outer islands that are far removed from the bustling life of the capital, Malé. Climate change, urban development and water pollution have all resulted in a fragile and largely contaminated water system, making daily life hard for island residents.
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Klaas Schwartz, new Professor of Water Services Governance, tackles drinking water supply challenges
Klaas Schwartz, recently promoted to Professor of Water Services Governance, considers addressing governance and management challenges faced by water providers as his main task. He was appointed Professor at IHE Delft and the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) on 1 April.
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Mulele Nabuyanda earns PhD for research on the impact of minerals in Zambian wetlands
Mulele Nabuyanda from Zambia has been awarded a PhD. On 15 April, he successfully defended his PhD thesis entitled: ‘’Investigating cobalt, copper, and lead in sediments and phragmites mauritianus and Typha spp. in three Zambian wetlands. Professor Kenneth Irvine was his promotor and Dr. Peter Kelderman was his co-promotor.
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Alumni blog: Navigating possibilities of the water sector in post-war Sudan
Despite war raging in their home country, Razan Elnour, Dalal Siddig, Gofran Ahmed and other recent Sudanese IHE Delft MSc alumni are busy charting a sustainable path forward for their country’s water sector. They are ready to lead a change to improve the water sector, once conditions are stable enough. In December 2023, they hosted the New Sudan Water Conference at IHE Delft and online, bringing together experts, scholars, and stakeholders to discuss rebuilding and resilience in post-conflict environments. They share ideas in this blog.
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IHE Delft alumnus Tom Okurut Okia passes away
Okurut studied at IHE Delft from 1991 to 1999. His MSc and PhD degrees in Environmental Science and Technology focused on the adoption of the Framework Strategy for the Management and Development of Lake Victoria Basin by East African Community Council of Ministers as a planning tool by all Lake Victoria Stakeholders.
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IHE Delft and Kenya Water Institute partner up on water education and research
IHE Delft and the Kenya Water Institute (KEWI) have signed an agreement to cooperate on capacity development and knowledge sharing for the improvement of the water and environmental sectors.