Rainwater Harvesting Policy Issues in the MENA Region: Lessons Learned, Challenges, and Sustainable Recommendations

Author(s):  
Muna Yacoub Hindiyeh ◽  
Mohammed Matouq ◽  
Saeid Eslamian
Author(s):  
Amal .M. Al Hashmi ◽  
Stephan von Bandemer ◽  
Ashfaq Shuaib ◽  
Ossama Yassin Mansour ◽  
Mohammed Wassy ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Mario Pagliaro

Almost fifty years after the first installations, I identify the main lessons learned from fighting drought and poverty in Africa with direct solar-powered pumps thanks to Father Bernard Verspieren and Mali Aqua Viva. Six main findings and three main recommendations emerge from the present analysis. They are of direct relevance to all Africa’s countries whose population has gone from 438 million in 1977 to 1,308 million in 2019, with about 600 million still having no access to electricity. In place of “awareness campaigns” and extraordinary courses held by international organizations, I recommend to establish national solar energy institutes whose task will include the education of solar energy professionals giving practice-oriented workshops on solar-powered drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting throughout each Africa’s country. Said education will critically include the economic and social aspects of distributed “generation” of energy and water from sunlight and rainfall.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3136
Author(s):  
Mario Pagliaro

Almost fifty years after the first installations, I identify the main lessons learned from fighting drought and poverty in Africa with direct solar-powered pumps, thanks to Father Bernard Verspieren and Mali Aqua Viva. Six main findings and three main recommendations emerge from the present analysis. They are of direct relevance to all the countries in Africa whose population has gone from 438 million in 1977 to 1308 million in 2019, with about 600 million still having no access to electricity. In place of “awareness campaigns” and extraordinary courses held by international organizations, I recommend the establishment of national solar energy institutes whose task will include the education of solar energy professionals and giving practice-oriented workshops on solar-powered drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting throughout each of Africa’s countries. This education will critically include the economic and social aspects of distributed “generation” of energy and water from sunlight and rainfall.


Author(s):  
Daniel Francis ◽  
Flavia Tsang ◽  
Gregory D. Erhardt

Statewide travel models are analysis tools that simulate transportation system conditions and are used to answer “what if” questions about proposed plans and policies. In the United States, they are in use or in development in 39 out of 50 state departments of transportation (DOTs). States without a statewide model are faced with the decision of whether to invest in one, whereas states with models need to decide when and whether to upgrade. Prior efforts to aid this decision making provided detailed synthesis on the cost of statewide modeling, but it has been difficult for other states to use the lessons learned, because cost is largely driven by each state’s specific circumstances. There has also been very little research on quantifying the value of models. To address these gaps, the present research uses a novel scenario-based interview approach. Representatives from 29 DOTs and five consultancies participated in our scenario-based interviews, from which we collected cost estimates for three archetypical statewide models and willingness-to-pay estimates (i.e., perceived value) under nine model development and policy focus scenarios. Our results show that cost ranges from $500,000 for an archetypical Basic 3-Step Model to between $2.8 million and $5 million for an Activity-Based Model for a large state, with data collection comprising a large portion of the cost (36–66%). Further, the perceived value of statewide models exceeds the costs by a factor of 2.4–11.3, with the cost–benefit ratio being higher when a DOT is interested in a broader set of policy issues.


Author(s):  
Negash Tessema Roba ◽  
Asfaw Kebede Kassa ◽  
Dame Yadeta Geleta ◽  
Birhanu Kindshih Hishe

Abstract Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is a novel way for developing countries to construct and maintain long-term water supply systems. As a result, this review article draws on actual findings and lessons learned from various places in Ethiopia to assess the country's achievements and opportunities when it comes to RWH, as well as to guide future alternatives toward its sustainability. RWH acts as a tie throughout the rainy season's dry spells, benefiting human and livestock consumption as well as crop production through irrigation. So, for the victory of well-organized rain water collection, watershed treatment, seepage and evaporation control, soil and water conservation, conservation tillage, and integration of low-cost water lifting techniques and family drip systems should all be feasible. Given that the country is not further modernized, it has ancient dated experiences on the operation and exploitation of RWH systems. Aside from financial inadequacies, historical and political instability, lack of understanding among farmers, and resistance to new technologies, the country has opportunities and has made some progress on rainwater harvesting systems. In general, rainwater harvesting could enable smallholder farmers to diversify their crops, thereby enhancing household food security, dietary status, and economic return. In addition, the much-needed green revolution and climate change adaptations should combine rainwater harvesting ideas with agronomic principles in the country. More work is needed to strengthen indigenous practices and share best practices to a larger scale.


Author(s):  
Elena Sánchez-Nielsen ◽  
Deirdre Lee ◽  
Eleni Panopoulou ◽  
Simon Delakorda ◽  
Gyula Takács

2010 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn J. Wright ◽  
Valerie Cummins ◽  
Edward Dwyer

Coastal web atlas (CWA) development is introduced in this chapter as a relatively new field of technology, driven by a wide range of coastal policy issues such as population pressure and climate change. International interest in CWAs is demonstrated by the large number of CWA initiatives worldwide. However, there is a need to take stock of technological developments as well as other lessons learned. This chapter sets the scene in relation to these issues which in turn provides the context for describing the aims of the book. The aims of the book are articulated as presenting the latest developments in CWAs and helping readers to determine future needs in mapping and informatics for coastal management.


Author(s):  
Mario Pagliaro

Almost fifty years after the first installations, I identify the main lessons learned from fighting drought and poverty in Africa with direct solar-powered pumps thanks to Father Bernard Verspieren and Mali Aqua Viva. Six main findings and three main recommendations emerge from the present analysis which are of direct relevance to all Africa’s countries whose population has gone from 438 million in 1977 to 1308 million in 2019, with about 600 million still having no access to electricity. In place of “awareness campaigns”, I recommend to organize practice-oriented workshops on solar-powered irrigation and rainwater harvesting held by professional educators of newly established solar energy national institutes. In agreement with today’s expanded approach to education in solar energy, and with the key adult learning principle of motivation to learn, said education will include the economic and social aspects of distributed “generation” of energy and water from sunlight and rainfall.


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