Archive for category: Water Crisis

, ,

How Smart Irrigation in Morocco is Changing Agriculture

How Smart Irrigation in Morocco is Changing Agriculture Morocco’s farms are running out of water. After years of recurring drought and rising temperatures, the country’s agricultural system is under mounting pressure and farmers are being pushed to adapt. In response, a new approach is gaining ground: the use of artificial intelligence to manage irrigation more efficiently, for a sector representing 15% of the nation’s GDP.

The Irrigation Challenge

Agriculture accounts for 85% of Morocco’s water consumption, yet much of it still relies on traditional irrigation practices inadequate to today’s climate realities. In many regions, farmers continue to use flood irrigation or fixed watering schedules, applying water regardless of soil conditions or weather forecasts.

This leads to significant inefficiencies. Large quantities of water are lost through evaporation, runoff and over-irrigation, particularly during hot and dry periods. As climate change intensifies, rainfall patterns have become more erratic, making it harder for farmers to rely on seasonal cycles. The result is a growing mismatch between water supply and agricultural demand.

In a country already facing structural water scarcity, these inefficiencies are no longer sustainable. They threaten not only agricultural productivity but also long-term food security.

Smart Irrigation in Morocco

AI-powered irrigation systems offer a way to move beyond approximation by introducing precision and adaptability. These technologies rely on real-time data to determine when and how much water crops actually need.

One of the key tools is soil moisture sensing. Sensors placed in the ground continuously monitor moisture levels, allowing farmers to irrigate based on actual conditions rather than assumptions. This prevents both under-watering, which stresses crops, and over-watering, which wastes resources.

Another important feature is the integration of weather forecasts. AI systems can analyze upcoming rainfall and adjust irrigation schedules accordingly. If rain is expected, watering can be delayed, reducing unnecessary water use.

Automation further enhances efficiency. Smart systems can operate independently, delivering water at optimal times — typically early morning or late evening — when evaporation is lower. This ensures that more water reaches plant roots, maximizing its impact.

Benefits of AI-Powered Irrigation

The advantages of these systems are both immediate and long-term. One of the most significant is water conservation. By aligning irrigation with actual crop needs, farmers can reduce water consumption substantially, in some cases by up to 70%. In Morocco’s water-scarce context, such reductions are significant.

Improved irrigation precision also boosts agricultural performance. Crops receive consistent and adequate hydration, leading to higher yields and better-quality produce. This can enhance farmers’ competitiveness in both domestic and export markets.

Cost savings are another key benefit. Using less water reduces expenses linked to pumping, storage and distribution. Over time, these savings can offset the cost of adopting new technologies.

Beyond these measurable gains, digitalization is reshaping daily farm management. Tasks that were once time-consuming and labor-intensive can now be automated. In Sefrou province, a farmer growing vegetables and olives described how this shift has affected his routine: “Automating and remotely managing my irrigation system has freed up time. I now dedicate one day each week to another business activity that generates additional income.” For many farmers, this flexibility opens the door to new economic opportunities.

Where AI Has the Greatest Impact

The potential for smart irrigation in Morocco is particularly high in traditional farming systems. These account for around 85% of cultivated land and consume roughly 70% of irrigation water.

Because these systems are often the least efficient, they offer the greatest scope for improvement. Precision irrigation technologies could reduce water use in this area, representing a significant shift in resource management. By contrast, more controlled systems such as greenhouse or urban agriculture, are already relatively efficient, leaving less room for substantial gains.

Startups and Digital Innovation

A growing number of startups and initiatives are driving the adoption of smart irrigation in Morocco. Agrilink, originally founded in Europe, has developed Internet of Things (IoT)-based solutions that connect soil sensors, irrigation systems and mobile applications. This allows farmers to monitor and control water use remotely, in real time.

SOWIT is another key player, combining climate data and agronomic expertise to deliver tailored recommendations. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between technology and sustainable employment by enabling young people in rural areas to gather actionable agricultural data, enhance production efficiency and support better outcomes for farmers. It targets two key groups: 280 women engaged in agriculture who are being trained in the use of precision farming technologies, and 100 independent field agents providing advisory support and expanding client networks across eight regions.

These initiatives are contributing to the emergence of a digital agricultural ecosystem, creating new opportunities for both efficiency and employment.

Looking Ahead

The expansion of AI in agriculture is closely aligned with Morocco’s Green Generation 2020–2030 strategy, which aims to modernize the sector and improve its resilience. A central objective is to connect up to 2 million farmers to digital platforms by the end of the decade.

As adoption increases, AI-powered irrigation could play a key role in conserving water, stabilizing yields and strengthening food security. Challenges remain, particularly in ensuring that smallholder farmers can access and effectively use these technologies. Addressing these barriers will require continued investment in infrastructure, training and digital literacy.

– Riccardo Chiaraluce

Riccardo is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

,

Fighting the Era of Global Water Bankruptcy

Global Water BankruptcyAs of early 2026, the world has entered an era of “global water bankruptcy,” with 2.2 billion people lacking safe drinking water and 4 billion facing severe scarcity, according to the United Nations University. The Freshwater Challenge is working to combat this crisis of overdrawn water resources and ecosystem collapse by initiating large-scale restoration of aquatic ecosystems.

Global Water Bankruptcy

The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) argues that more common language, like “water crisis,” does not accurately represent the true nature of what is occurring in many places across the globe.

In its most recent report, UNU-INWEH offers updated and more refined recommendations for governments so that their guidelines suit the state of water in the world currently. The report serves as advice to policymakers to make water a top priority. With a focus on water, governments can promote cooperation to address critical challenges of safety, peace, liberty, land development and sustainability.

The main message of the report is that the world has entered the era of global water bankruptcy. This is a term that the United Nations (U.N.) adopted when updating its language to reflect the reality in places suffering from inequitable water access or no access to fresh water at all.

This problem continues to grow as excessive water use, land deterioration, deforestation, groundwater depletion and overall pollution worsen globally, which is what pushed the U.N. to adopt this new term.

The Journal of Water Resources Management originally developed the language, defining it as the persistent over-withdrawal of water relative to renewable inflows and safe levels of depletion, along with the resulting irreversible or prohibitively costly loss of water-related natural capital.

The Freshwater Challenge

Originally launched in 2023 at the U.N. Water Conference, the Freshwater Challenge has become the largest global initiative dedicated to restoring and protecting degraded rivers, lakes and wetlands. It aims to address the worsening water, climate and nature crises, which together are known as global water bankruptcy.

The Freshwater Challenge plans to serve impoverished countries by restoring rivers and wetlands, which will improve access to safe water and reduce climate risks. Indeed, by restoring ecosystems, the initiative will boost local food security, create sustainable livelihoods for the people and protect vulnerable communities from water-related hazards like droughts and floods, aligning with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The initiative is targeting degraded freshwater sources, which are crucial for drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in developing areas. This will aid communities currently relying on unsafe water. Restoring inland waters will also help to boost fish populations and support local agriculture, which are essential for the nutrition of impoverished communities.

The Freshwater Challenge’s work to support these communities helps attract funding to implement improvements in national water management systems, in areas like Zambia and Sierra Leone, by bridging data gaps and improving water management. Overall, the initiative involves 54 countries and the European Union, which have joined together to reverse the breakdown of critical water systems.

Future Outlook

The initiative has announced a new goal to restore 300,000 kilometers of rivers and 350 million hectares of wetlands by 2030, essential for sustaining drinking water and sanitation, especially in regions with high water scarcity, like the Middle East and North Africa.

In addition to this restoration, the Freshwater Challenge plans to work on conservation for water-based ecosystems that are currently intact. By staying ahead of future problems, the initiative can strengthen the impact of its work.

Looking Ahead

Even though the state of water resources continues to weaken with the changing climate and human impact, the Freshwater Challenge is working to support people in need. The initiative will continue its efforts to protect the world’s freshwater resources through restoration, conservation and international cooperation.

– Megan McGrath

Megan is based in Verona, NJ, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

,

The Book Helping End Water Poverty in Sierra Leone

Water Poverty in Sierra LeoneThe poverty-stricken people of Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital and largest city, have a saying about water: “Wata na life,” which translates to “Water is life.” Water is essential, of course, but to those living in poverty, it means more than that. In Sierra Leone, water is far from easily available to the general public. 

Water poverty in Sierra Leone is a massive problem for the country. However, Ngadi Smart, the author of the 2023 book “Wata Na Life,” has created a way to simultaneously educate the public about this issue and make progress toward its resolution. The book is a photography collection consisting of collage and prose exploring the intimate lives of those living in water poverty. 

Smart traveled to Freetown, got to know the people and took photos of them within their environments. The finished book has captured the attention of readers all across the globe and raised money for WaterAid, the charity backing the book. 

Poverty in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone faces a staggering poverty rate, with 56.8% of the population living at or below the poverty line. Millions contend with strained infrastructure, the legacy of civil conflict, displacement and one of the world’s worst water shortages. For many in poverty, the nearest water sources are small, contaminated ponds and wells, often miles away. These conditions have driven life expectancy down to just 62 years as of 2023. 

Freetown, Sierra Leone’s largest city, is home to more than a million people competing for limited water sources. Children and adults often wake as early as 1 a.m. to collect water for the day, enduring long and difficult journeys.

Women making these trips face heightened risks, including sexual violence. Politicians even use water as a campaign strategy, promising better access to clean water in attempts to gain votes.

How “Wata Na Life” Came To Be

The book’s title comes from a phrase Smart heard repeatedly during her travels and conversations with residents. She began work on the project in 2021 after WaterAid commissioned her to travel across Sierra Leone and document her journey. The project was one of three joint commissions by WaterAid and the British Journal of Photography, aimed at amplifying new voices and perspectives on climate instability.

During her travels, she witnessed the brutal truths of day-to-day life without consistent access to clean water. She realized that water is more than a bare necessity; it’s a cultural zeitgeist. People’s lives revolve around obtaining enough water to live. She claimed that water is also a form of currency in the culture. These brutal truths went on to inspire the photographs and biographies seen in the book.

The book’s contents consist of highly stylized collages that combine images of the people she spoke to and their living spaces. These collages aim to capture the reality of life without consistent access to clean water and, more importantly, the resilience of those living in these conditions.

WaterAid and Hope for a Better Future

The creation of “Wata Na Life” not only brought the reality of water poverty in Sierra Leone to the public’s attention but also raised funds and rallied support for WaterAid’s efforts to eradicate water poverty.

WaterAid is a U.K.-based nonprofit organization that operates internationally. Its work focuses on supporting those affected by water poverty through both on-the-ground efforts and political advocacy. It partners with communities in 22 countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Pakistan and Nepal, to build facilities such as toilets and showers in underserved regions.

The publication of “Wata Na Life” has brought increased attention and funding to WaterAid’s cause through publicity and donations. The book’s print sales are also donated to Mopada, Sierra Leone, helping reach the communities depicted in its pages. Additionally, the book received the 2023 Publishing Ecology Award for its outstanding visuals and purpose.

– Lucas Cain

Lucas is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Access to Clean Water in Chad and the Fight Against Poverty

Access to Clean Water in Chad and the Fight Against Poverty Access to clean water is a critical issue in Chad, a landlocked country in Central Africa. Millions of people in Chad struggle daily to obtain safe drinking water, which affects health, education and economic development. Understanding the challenges and potential solutions is essential for improving the lives of people in Chad.

The Water Crisis in Chad

Chad faces one of the most severe water scarcity situations in the world. Many rural areas lack reliable water sources, and residents often rely on contaminated rivers or ponds. According to UNICEF, less than half of Chad’s population has access to safe drinking water. This shortage leads to widespread waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea and typhoid.

Factors Contributing to Water Scarcity

Several factors worsen the water crisis in Chad:

  1. Climate and droughts: Chad has a dry climate, with frequent droughts that reduce the availability of surface water.
  2. Poor infrastructure: Many regions lack wells, pumps and pipelines to deliver clean water.
  3. Population growth: Rapid population growth increases demand, putting more pressure on limited water resources.
  4. Conflict and displacement: Violence and political instability disrupt water systems and force people to flee to areas without safe water.

Health Impacts of Unsafe Water

Without access to clean water, children under five are especially vulnerable. Contaminated water contributes to high rates of malnutrition, stunting and preventable deaths. Women and girls often spend hours each day fetching water, which reduces time for education and work.

Solutions to Improve Access

Efforts to improve water access in Chad focus on both infrastructure and community programs:

  1. Boreholes and wells: Drilling deep wells provides communities with access to safe groundwater.
  2. Water filtration systems: Simple filtration devices can remove bacteria and pathogens from contaminated water.
  3. Education on hygiene: Teaching communities about handwashing, water storage and sanitation reduces waterborne diseases.

Looking Ahead 

Improving access to clean water in Chad is essential for health, education and economic growth. While challenges such as the changing climate, population growth and poor infrastructure remain, targeted solutions such as wells, filtration systems and hygiene education can make a meaningful difference.

– Nishanth Pothapragada

Nishanth is based in London, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Water Scarcity, Inadequate Sanitation and Food Insecurity in Chad

Food Insecurity in ChadChad has been experiencing severe food insecurity and water scarcity, combined with insufficient sanitation services, for several years now. The main contributors to these disasters have been flooding, drought, conflict and inadequate infrastructure. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), Chad is now facing its sixth consecutive year of crisis-level hunger.

These crises have been worsened by the influx of refugees entering the country from Sudan, the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Cameroon and other neighboring states. According to UNHCR data, more than 1.45 million refugees currently reside in Chad. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 90% of these refugees are women and children.

There are also nearly 226,000 internally displaced Chadians. In addition, children account for 57% of Chad’s total population, according to UNICEF.

Food Insecurity in Chad

Chad is currently the sixth most food-insecure country in the world. The WFP reports there are currently more than 3.4 million Chadians facing extreme hunger, a 240% increase since 2020. UNICEF has stated that there are more than 2 million Chadian children in need of treatment for severe wasting, which is the most life-threatening stage of malnutrition.

Additionally, according to the Global Nutrition Report, 31.1% of children in Chad under the age of 5 are stunted. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that in Chad, “the 2024/25 agricultural season is marked by the destruction of 819,370 hectares of sown land, primarily due to floods, plant pests and straying livestock. Conflict has also disrupted agriculture, adding to food insecurity in Chad.

The International Crisis Group has reported that between 2021 and 2024, farmer-herder conflict claimed the lives of more than 1,000 Chadians and left more than 2,000 injured. According to FEWS NET, agropastoral clashes have led to significant loss of life: “Since May 2025, 42 people were killed in Logone Occidental, 16 in Ouaddaï, 17 in Mayo Kebbi Ouest and six in Salamat due to these conflicts.” FEWS NET also reported that as of late June, only 11.8% of people earmarked for Chad’s 2025 humanitarian assistance plan had received food aid.

Humanitarian Aid

The WFP reported that between June and August 2024, it had disbursed food, cash and nutritional support to up to 1 million people and provided aid to an additional 400,000 people who had been impacted by flooding. Furthermore, it aims to assist 1 million breastfeeding and pregnant women, along with children aged 6-59 months, with treatment for malnutrition.

According to the FAO, in 2024, the United Nations (U.N.) provided 58.7 tonnes of crops and 3.5 tonnes of vegetable seed to more than 22,800 households in Chad. As a result, 42,660 tonnes of staple foods and 14,400 tonnes of fruits and vegetables were cultivated. Thirty percent was consumed and the remainder was sold for more than $5 million, distributed in average payments of $280 per household, which was sufficient to supply food for up to six months.

Additionally, in early 2025, the European Commission announced that it had allocated €74.5 million (approximately $83.9 million) to Chad for humanitarian assistance. According to UNICEF, in April, the organization appealed for $114.2 million in aid for Chad, with more than $50 million allocated for nutritional support and more than $24 million dedicated to WASH services. However, only 34% of the required funding has been secured.

Water Scarcity and Sanitation

According to the Interactive Country Fiches (ICF), “Chad has the third-lowest level of access to safe water and the lowest level of access to adequate sanitation in all of Africa.” Only 52% of Chad’s population has basic access to drinking water. However, Gannet’s Data Friendly Space (DFS) has reported that only 18% have access to safely managed sources and merely 10% of Chadians have access to basic sanitation.

Doctors Without Borders (DWB) reports, “In refugee camps across the Ouaddaï, Wadi Fira and Ennedi Est provinces, most refugees are receiving far less than the recommended 20 liters (nearly 5 gallons) of clean water per day. This shortage disproportionately affects women and children.” According to UNICEF, Chad’s mortality rate for children under the age of 5 is approximately one in 10. Gannet’s DFS reports that malaria is the leading cause of these deaths, while noting that insufficient sanitation, stagnant water and overcrowded camps further increase the risk of transmission.

Additionally, according to UNICEF, 68% of the population practices open defecation. This stems in part from the lack of latrines in refugee camps; DWB reports that many camps fail to meet the minimum standard of one latrine for every 50 people. With such a high rate of flooding, open defecation and inadequate water management, waterborne disease has wreaked havoc, leading to outbreaks of hepatitis E, cholera and typhoid. According to the WHO, between January and April 2024, there were 2,092 suspected cases of hepatitis E.

Cholera Outbreak

Regarding the recent cholera outbreak, the chief of WASH in Chad, Oumar Doumbouya, stated: “As of 20 October, we have 2,770 cases of cholera and 156 deaths, including 69 in communities. The disease remains active in three provinces: Ouaddaï, Sila and Guéra.” In 2024, the International Water Association reported that more than 78% of the population in N’Djamena, Chad’s capital, obtained water from hand pumps.

Doumbouya noted that UNICEF is working to improve water sources across the country. “Just to give you a figure, we have been recently working on trying to upgrade water points in Chad to put this from a simple hand pump to a solar motorized water supply system and basically, we were able to identify more than 5,000 water points that needed to be upgraded.”

UNICEF has reported that in February 2024, it facilitated funding for the installation of two water treatment units in Baga Sola and Bol, which, combined, provide 20 liters of water per person to 4,000 people each day. DWB has also made significant contributions to improving conditions in refugee camps. According to the organization, “In the last two years, MSF [DWB] treated 43,908 patients for acute malnutrition and responded to hepatitis E and typhoid outbreaks in Adré, Aboutengue and Metché.”

In the Adré transit camp alone, water systems built by DWB produced 654,000 liters of water per day in May. The organization also restored 229 latrines, constructed 80 long-term latrines and cleaned 539 existing ones in Adré.

Final Remarks

The battle against food insecurity, water scarcity and poor sanitation in Chad is far from over. However, with the help of international organizations, the nation is making progress every day.

– Owen Armentrout

Owen is based in Detroit, MI, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

A Hard Look at Food and Water Scarcity in Afghanistan

Water Scarcity in AfghanistanFor many years, millions of people in Afghanistan have been facing severe levels of food insecurity compounded by critical water scarcity. Despite improvements in the winter season of 2021-2022, the crisis has remained mostly stagnant.

This results from drought, flash floods, dependence on other nations and damaged or insufficient infrastructure.

Water Scarcity

Afghanistan has been in the midst of a crippling drought since 2021. As of March, it’s estimated that 33 million Afghans do not have reliable access to water, according to the Red Cross. In 2023, 25 out of 34 provinces in Afghanistan were experiencing drastic water scarcity due to drought conditions. Similarly, UNICEF has reported that 80% of Afghans drink from unsafe, unregulated sources.

About 93% of children in Afghanistan reside in areas with high water vulnerability. The primary water source for Afghans is wells, of which there are more than 310,000. Mercy Corps has also reported an additional 120,000 borewells in and around Kabul alone. However, many of these wells have become unreliable. As of 2023, nearly half of Kabul’s borewells have run completely dry, while the remaining operable ones are deficient, retaining only 60% of their capacity.

In addition, Al Jazeera reports that “up to 80% of groundwater [in Kabul] is believed to be unsafe, with high levels of sewage, arsenic and salinity.” Furthermore, according to the U.N., in early 2024, many of the country’s northern and eastern regions experienced only 45–60% of the average precipitation. Mercy Corps reported that “Kabul’s aquifer levels have plummeted 25–30 meters in the past decade, with extraction exceeding natural recharge by a staggering 44 million cubic meters annually.”

By 2030, Kabul is predicted to become the first major city in the world to completely deplete its water sources, leaving six million people in dire need. However, there have been initiatives to combat this nationwide issue. In 2024, the Red Cross reported that its efforts to rebuild infrastructure in urban areas such as Kabul, Herat and Kandahar improved access to water for more than 1.1 million people. It also repaired more than 1,300 pumps and supplied villages with more than 1,800 sand filters, ultimately helping more than 275,000 Afghans. In May, the U.N. allocated $16.6 million to the Afghan government to help reduce the effects of drought in the north and northeastern regions.

Food Insecurity

As of 2023, 45% of Afghans were employed in the agricultural sector. However, flash floods, drought, earthquakes and poor infrastructure have proven catastrophic to crop yields, further worsening the nation’s dwindling food supply. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, as of April, an estimated 12.6 million Afghans were experiencing high levels of food insecurity. This is more than a quarter of the population. Of this group, 10.6 million were classified as emergency cases, while 1.95 million were in the crisis category.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), 4.7 million women and children in Afghanistan currently need treatment for malnutrition. UNICEF also reports that one in three adolescent girls is anemic and only 12% of children aged 6–24 months receive the appropriate variety of nutrition for their age. This issue has been exacerbated by recent earthquakes, which have put 37,000 children at even greater risk.

The U.N. has also reported that “desertification has affected more than 75% of the total land area in the country’s northern, western and southern regions, reducing vegetation cover for pasture, accelerating land degradation and affecting crop farming in the last four decades.” Furthermore, the WFP was forced to halt aid distribution in May due to funding shortfalls. The nonprofit also stated that more than $560 million would be needed to continue its efforts.

However, UNICEF still provides aid. As of 2024, it reported supplying more than 62,000 families with micronutrient powder to combat malnutrition, with that number continuing to rise into this year. The organization also supports pregnant and lactating women, as well as children, in 34 regions. In total, UNICEF said it helped more than 630,000 children combat malnutrition in 2024 alone.

– Owen Armentrout

Owen is based in Detroit, MI, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

,

Tackling Water Scarcity in Türkiye

Water Scarcity in TürkiyeAs the climate crisis increases heating and worsens the water scarcity crisis, Türkiye is taking crucial steps to address this crisis. Recently, many cities reported that reservoirs have plunged severely. According to the Istanbul Water and Sewage Administration, Istanbul’s reservoir level dropped to an average of 42.43% capacity, representing the “second lowest August level” in the past decade. According to Türkiye’s Meteorological Service, rainfall decreased by 71% compared to 2024.

The U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) reported that 88% of Türkiye’s land is highly vulnerable to desertification, leading to severe water scarcity by 2023. Türkiye is taking decisive steps and applying alternatives to tackle this crisis. However, with more international aid and partnerships in water projects, there could be more progress.

Challenges in Tackling Water Scarcity in Türkiye

While the government is making efforts to mitigate the crisis, challenges remain, including:

  • Rising temperatures and reduced rainfall. These have left the country’s dams with little or no water, as in the case of Naip Dam in Tekirdağ, which fell to 0% in August.
  • Shortages in yields across the country.
  • The overuse of resources, combined with outdated water and agriculture policies, has worsened the crisis.

Steps To Address the Crisis

To address this crisis, Türkiye was forced to find alternatives, such as constructing pump systems for water delivery in the needed areas. Furthermore, on June 27, 2024, the World Bank approved $ 600 million for Türkiye to address the escalating threats of floods and droughts. The project includes constructing flood control facilities and improving real-time agricultural drought monitoring stations. The drought monitoring maps help farmers choose better crops and decide when they are suitable for irrigation so they don’t waste water.

On June 2, 2025, the World Bank approved $819 million in financing for the Türkiye Second Irrigation Modernization and Water Efficiency Project. This project focuses on improving irrigation systems, supporting at least 50,000 farms in areas experiencing extreme heat and flooding. Such a project greatly helps conserve more water since the agriculture sector consumes 85% of the total available water.

Additionally, on March 22, 2025, Türkiye’s National Water Efficiency Initiative was launched. The program includes events and campaigns to raise citizens’ awareness about the responsible use of water. Progress has been made in tackling the water crisis, but more effort is still needed.

– Eiman Elsawy

Eiman is based in Kirkland, WA, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

,

Progress on Clean Water in Kenya

Clean Water in KenyaKenya has long struggled with clean water access, especially in rural areas where millions still depend on unsafe sources. The lack of reliable water fuels waterborne diseases, limits school attendance and places the collection burden primarily on women and girls.

However, progress is underway through partnerships between local communities, NGOs, international organizations and intentional partners. They work together to create lasting solutions that improve health, education and economic opportunities.

The Challenges of Water Insecurity

For Kenyan families, fetching water requires walking long distances, sometimes several hours daily. Women and children are the most affected, often sacrificing time for education or work to ensure their household has water. Even then, the water they collect is not always safe, contributing to the spread of cholera, typhoid and diarrhea.

These diseases are some of the leading causes of death in Kenya, particularly among young children. Without reliable water, farming and livestock rearing, the backbone of rural economies, also face challenges.

The Upper Tana-Nairobi Water Insecurity

One of the most impactful initiatives addressing water scarcity in Kenya is the Upper Tana-Nairobi Water Fund, launched by The Nature Conservancy. The fund protects Nairobi’s main water source by encouraging sustainable farming practices, reducing soil erosion and expanding tree planting in the Upper watershed.

This approach benefits both the environment and local communities. More than 70,000 hectares are now under improved management, helping secure clean water for millions of people in Nairobi. At the same time, farmers gain from healthier soil and improved crop yields. By investing in nature-based solutions, the fund creates a sustainable cycle that ensures clean water for urban residents while strengthening rural livelihoods.

Sand Dams: Harnessing Rain Water for the Dry Seasons

The Africa Sand Dam Foundation (ASDF) builds sand dams in drought-prone regions that store rainwater in sandy riverbeds, making it available throughout dry seasons. These structures now benefit nearly one million people by reducing time spent fetching water, cutting disease rates and supporting small-scale farming.

Organizations like Aqua Clara Kenya focus on WASH by providing filters, community training and school programs. Its work has reached hundreds of thousands, strengthening hygiene practices and ensuring access to safe drinking water.

Meanwhile, Water is Life Kenya works with Maasai communities to drill boreholes, provide WASH education and empower women. Women often serve in leadership roles on local water committees, gaining both a voice and an opportunity to shape decisions affecting their lives.

This empowerment has ripple effects, communities not only gain access to clean water but also create new economic opportunities. Health improves, children can attend school more regularly and women can invest time in businesses or farming instead of long water treks.

A Future of Shared Progress in Kenya

The clean water story is still evolving. While millions remain without safe access, the progress made through partnerships between local communities, NGOs and international organizations offers hope by combining infrastructure projects like sand dams and boreholes with education, conservation and women’s empowerment. These efforts are tackling water insecurity from multiple angles.

The journey toward universal clean water access in Kenya is far from over. However, each initiative brings the country closer to ensuring every family has the right to safe, reliable water. The impact goes beyond hydration; it transforms health, education, gender equality and economic growth, shaping a brighter and more resilient future.

– Reign Lankford

Reign is based in Houston, TX, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

, ,

Earth05: Fighting the Global Water Crisis

Earth05Artificial Intelligence (AI) is in every corner of everyone’s lives. No matter what screen you turn on, there is an AI feature that tries to simplify your life with its summarizations and generated images. That help doesn’t have to be just for people; it can also be used to save the environment.

Recognizing this potential, the Barcelona-based nonprofit Earth05 has begun applying AI to address the ongoing water crisis. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), about 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. To address this challenge, Earth05 is working toward its goal of improving the lives of 500 million people by 2030.

Earth05

Earth05, launched in January 2024 at the World Economic Forum. Its mission is to increase water access to millions of people globally. The organization aims to achieve this by using AI to predict water shortages, detect leaks and contaminants, optimize irrigation and power smart delivery systems.

Earth05’s ultimate goal is to prevent rising poverty and support lower-middle-income economies and indigenous communities. It aims to equip these groups for immediate challenges and long-term shifts in the age of AI. Earth05 believes combining AI with water conservation can create powerful solutions for the planet and its people.

Earth05’s AI could help predict water fluctuation patterns in countries that need it most, which is becoming harder to do without the assistance of AI. Such progress would be vital for nations like Mexico, Brazil, India, China and other countries that obtain water by desalination.

Aside from improving water access, Earth05 is committed to contributing to the United Nations (U.N.) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These include SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and many more.

The Solution

Earth05 is fighting to ensure the global water crisis does not worsen by integrating water, education and AI across all initiatives. New technology will allow the nonprofit to analyze future systems, from water consumption to the availability of water based on previous predicted weather reports. AI can make these predictions quickly and accurately, for the first time.

The charity’s goal has always been Return on Lives (ROL), the first metric to measure what truly matters in innovation. ROL tracks how investment dollars translate into real improvements in human lives, environmental health and future well-being. It directly shows how many people Earth05 has helped through its commitment to solving the global water crisis.

Final Remarks

Earth05 is using AI to create better weather reports and better irrigation systems. The research conducted by Earth05 will help find ways to access frozen water or water buried deep in the ground. AI can use its knowledge and large language models (LLMs) to help locate water for those in need and address the growing global water crisis.

– Avery Carl

Avery is based in Norfolk, NE, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

, ,

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Powering a Nation

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Powering a Nation Out of PovertyThe Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) was named to reflect Ethiopia’s ambitions for national renewal and economic growth. As Africa’s largest hydroelectric power plant, the expectation is to expand electricity access in a country where more than 60 million people lack power and millions more live in poverty. While the GERD often receives praise for its potential to alleviate poverty within Ethiopia, its potential to promote development across the entire Nile Basin does not get as much emphasis.

Building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

In 2011, Ethiopia announced its plans to construct GERD on the Blue Nile. The $4.8 billion dam, funded primarily by the Ethiopian people through government-issued bonds, quickly became much more than just a standard infrastructure project. With a planned power capacity of 5,150 megawatts, GERD promised to lift countless Ethiopians out of darkness and poverty – and into a better future. 

Ethiopia is among the world’s poorest countries, with 67.14% of its population classified as multidimensionally poor. It also has one of the largest electricity access deficits. As of 2022, only 55% of Ethiopians had electricity, leaving millions in energy poverty on top of economic hardship. This reality is not only a symptom of widespread poverty but a perpetuator of it.

Without power, two-thirds of Ethiopian children struggle to study after dark. Women and girls spend hours gathering firewood and cooking over open stoves, losing time to pursue education or work. And patients are deprived of lifesaving equipment and treatment. For exactly these reasons, GERD, with its ability to double Ethiopia’s energy output, is a beacon of possibility. It offers a concrete path to power, education and development to a nation long denied all three.

Conflict on the Nile

Miles downstream, however, many fear that the dam guarantees the exact opposite. Egypt, a country that relies on the Nile for approximately 90% of its water needs, sees the prospect of reduced flow as a threat to its very survival. While Ethiopia frames the dam as an existential necessity, Egypt insists it is an existential threat. 

These dichotomous perspectives lie at the heart of the Nile dispute, a centuries-old debate over who has the right to own and control the river. Unfortunately, the Nile has often been a source of division instead of unity. Ethiopia, Egypt and the other riparian countries have struggled to find a compromise when it comes to water allocation. Yet the needs of the different parties may not be as incompatible as they appear. 

Collaboration Over Conflict

In a study published in Nature, water resources expert Mohammed Basheer of the University of Toronto and his team argue that collaboration could leave the Nile Basin as a whole better off. If managed efficiently, GERD can help Egypt meet its water needs during times of scarcity while generating hydroelectric power for Ethiopia when river flows are strong. 

The study’s modeling shows that the GERD can serve to meet the individual needs of different countries, rather than making those needs mutually exclusive. Just as it can generate hydropower to spur economic growth and development in Ethiopia, the dam can also reduce irrigation deficits in Egypt, boosting agriculture and production in other water-dependent industries. 

Fostering Unity Through Music

Basheer and his team make a clear case for cooperation, but they are not alone. Though their medium is very different, The Nile Project – a musical and educational initiative – reaches the same conclusion: harmony is key to a prosperous future. 

Founded to inspire collaboration, The Nile Project brings together musicians from various riparian countries. The artists blend their languages and cultures, creating a unique sound and reminding audiences both regionally and abroad of the value in working together. By promoting the Nile as a point of connection rather than division, the organization helps build the cultural foundation needed for shared economic benefit. 

Building a Shared Future

Resolving conflict and reaching a compromise is often challenging, but by choosing cooperation, Nile Basin countries could see positive results. Expert opinions suggest that GERD is unquestionably crucial to Ethiopia’s development and with the right approach, it could be a key tool in the fight against poverty across the entire region. 

– Caroline Clark

Caroline is based in Needham, MA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr