ACTS is among three Kenyan organisations selected to implement the Trans-Path project on learning and management of water resources.
The new project sets out to establish an international network of academics, postgraduate researchers, policy makers, activists, and water stewards for participatory action research on different sites, while also fostering learning across disciplines and locations.
The initiative - Trans-Path-Plan: Water Transformation Pathways Planning - aims to develop science-based tools that support inclusive, pro-active, adaptive transformation pathways towards better management of water resources.
It will build the capacity of policymakers to use more inclusive, transparent, participatory and adaptive planning tools; and support water users in different parts of the world to participate meaningfully in policymaking, planning and management of water resources.
In addition, the project will strive to develop the capacity of water scientists to conduct high-quality trans-disciplinary research to support long-term planning and approaches on water resources and create accountable, transparent, and effective institutions and policies that will ensure transformative actions on water resources are inclusive and sustainable, through appropriate policies.
Apart from ACTS, other institutions from Kenya who are part of the project include Egerton University and Kaimosi Friends University. In Kenya, the project will focus on Kingwal wetland and Yala basin. It will aim to transform unsustainable cultivation and pollution into sustainable wetlands for local livelihoods; and also improve water quality through participatory research and T-Lab approach.
ACTS will use its vast experience and networks to host a summer school on water transformation pathways
It is also anticipated that several junior or early career researchers are supported, with a good representation of female staff in this, each one hosted by one of the research partners and with supervision and guidance from senior staff.
A learning component has been embedded in the project to enable participants to receive training; this will be delivered by the different partners and researchers, sharing their particular expertise and experience with the network. This will mainly be done through online courses and webinars.
However, the project recognises that transformative adaptation will not put an end to the continuous dynamics that characterize complex social-ecological systems given the fact that the transformation process has many components with different types of outcomes and will continuously evolve.
