Identifying environmental and organizational issues that affect the promotion of rainwater harvesting by the Southern and Eastern Africa rainwater Network (SEARNET)

Houston, Peter C

Identifying environmental and organizational issues that affect the promotion of rainwater harvesting by the Southern and Eastern Africa rainwater Network (SEARNET)

Master Thesis

2003

Abstract

The Southern And Eastern Africa Rainwater Network (SEARNET) seeks to promote rainwater harvesting as a risk reduction strategy and means to improve livelihoods through its member national rainwater harvesting associations. SEARNET is an important channel of international donor funding from the Swedish and Dutch governments, and exists to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experiences of rainwater harvesting through networking. To identify the environmental and organisational issues affecting SEARNET, a questionnaire was sent to SEARNET members that asked open-ended questions about the value of rainwater harvesting to their country and the value of SEARNET to their association. Respondents raised issues that were pertinent to both their association and to SEARNET. Issues were also identified in a survey of Annual Country Status Reports (country reports) presented by national rainwater harvesting associations at the annual SEARNET conferences. Issues included water scarcity and sustainable water supplies; registration as a barrier to funding; a mismatch between donor funding and institutional requirements; and the need for better networking at the SEARNET conference. Several recommendations are made to improve both the promotion of rainwater harvesting by SEARNET members and the networking of SEARNET itself.