Water-related conflicts in river catchments occur due to both internal and external pressures that affect catchment water availability. Lack of common understanding of human–water perspectives by catchment stakeholders increases the complexity of human–water issues at the river catchment scale. Among a range of participatory approaches, the development and use of serious games gained prominence as a tool to stimulate discussion and reflection among stakeholders about sustainable resource use and collective action. This study designed and implemented the ENGAGE (Exploring New Gaming Approach to Guide and Enlighten) game that mimics the dynamics observed during the dry season in the upper Ewaso Ngiro catchment, northwest of Mount Kenya. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential role of serious gaming in subsequent steps of strengthening stakeholder engagement (agenda setting, shared understanding, commitment to collective action, and means of implementation) toward addressing complex human–water challenges at the catchment scale. We assessed the type of decisions made during gameplay, the communication dynamics, the active participation, and the implication of decisions made on water availability. The results of three game sessions show that the ENGAGE game raised awareness and provided a recognizable hydrologic background to conflicts while guiding community discussions toward implementable decisions. The results revealed increasing active participation, knowledge gain, and use of plural pronouns and decreasing individual interests and conflicts among game participants. This study presents important implications for creating a collective basis for water management and can inform human–water policies and modification of the process behind water allocation rules in a river catchment.
Tag: water management
Integrating gender into development of sub-catchment management plans in Kenya: A ‘how to’ note
Integrating gender in development of participatory forest management plans in Kenya: A ‘how to’ note
Seasonal rainfall patterns affect rainfed maize production more than management of soil moisture and different plant densities on sandy soils of semi-arid regions
In semi-arid regions, rainfed maize production is constrained by erratic rainfall and water loss through percolation, especially on sandy soils. This study evaluated the effects of sub-surface water retention technology (SWRT) and varying plant densities on maize performance over four cropping seasons in Mutare, Zimbabwe. SWRT increased grain yield by 21% and biomass by 13%, though seasonal rainfall variation had a greater impact. Rainwater use efficiency (RWUE) improved with higher plant density, particularly in dry years. These findings highlight the need for integrated soil moisture management and optimized planting densities, alongside investments in water harvesting and irrigation infrastructure, to stabilize and enhance maize yields in semi-arid smallholder systems.
Multistakeholder Engagement to Scale Soil Health Globally: The Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health
Healthy soil plays a vital role in ecosystem restoration, climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, water cycling, farmer livelihoods, and food security. Despite its significance, soil health has often been overlooked, though recent global initiatives, such as the Nairobi Declaration and the EU Soil Mission, signal growing momentum. The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration launched in 2021, alongside the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), which advocated for coalitions of action to transform food systems. In response, the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) was established to raise awareness, enhance collaboration, and scale healthy soil practices. Since its inception, CA4SH has expanded to nearly 200 members across public and private sectors, NGOs, research institutions, and farmer organizations, with a strong focus on gender equity and social inclusion (GESI). The Coalition builds partnerships to overcome economic, technical, and institutional barriers, facilitating evidence-based policy implementation and supporting financial investment in soil health. Through multinational dialogues, CA4SH has contributed to key climate policy frameworks, including COP27, COP28, and the UNCCD COP16 Riyadh Action Agenda. Positioned within the global environmental transition, CA4SH aims to drive soil health improvements for food systems transformation, economic resilience, and climate adaptation.
Agroforestry for sustainable livelihoods: role of geo-informatics, ICT, and citizen science
Agroforestry is an integrated land use system that combines trees, crops, and livestock, providing essential ecological and socioeconomic benefits that contribute to sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. This approach enhances biodiversity, improves soil structure and water management, supports livelihoods, and reduces market vulnerabilities. Recognized for its role in advancing sustainable development goals, agroforestry promotes carbon sequestration, food security, and ecosystem services, aligning with global restoration efforts such as the United Nations Decade of Restoration. In India, agroforestry practices are adapted to various agroclimatic zones, supplying approximately 70% of the country’s timber needs and significantly bolstering the rural economy. Recent technological advances in geo-informatics and data analytics have strengthened agroforestry implementation by enabling efficient monitoring, species mapping, and site suitability assessments. However, challenges such as data accessibility and integration persist, requiring investment in digital technologies and public-private partnerships to maximize agroforestry’s potential in sustainable development. This chapter explores the multifaceted benefits of agroforestry, the role of technological innovations in its expansion, and strategies to overcome implementation barriers, offering a comprehensive perspective for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners.
A context analysis on status of Water, trees and woodfuel systems in Laikipia East sub-county, Laikipia County
This context analysis study was conducted in Laikipia County. It targets policymakers both at county and national levels, practitioners and relevant stakeholders implementing restoration projects on the need to have a sound understanding of the context to help design the appropriate interventions in Laikipia County.
Integrating traditional and scientific knowledge of forest regeneration in swidden cultivation systems of Northern Thailand for tropical forest regeneration
Abstract not found.
Biochar and Moringa seed proteins for greywater treatment
This policy brief presents key findings and advice on the use of biochar and Moringa oleifera (MO) seed proteins for household greywater treatment. The research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a low-cost innovation for greywater treatment that addresses challenges regarding access to clean water, women’s and children’s water burdens and opportunities for recovering and reusing of greywater.