Semi-arid

The Samburu community in Kenya has a challenge which is the lack of Indigenous (and/or cultural) and scientific knowledge exchange and the integration of such shared knowledge in water use and management. The challenge can be attributed to a language barrier. Because of this language barrier, it means that the Samburu community (especially women and girls) are not involved in decision making regarding water use and management. If the breaking of language barriers is not prioritised, the Samburu people will not be able to know how climate change is affecting them and their water resources. This will result in no information and knowledge exchange between the locals (Indigenous) and the researchers (scientific). In addition, Indigenous knowledge on water uses and management is currently not documented therefore cannot be passed on from generation to generation resulting in continuous suffering due to lack of knowledge.

The water supply in Platfontein comes from the water distribution system but it is contaminated and therefore not safe to drink. That might be because Platfontein is closer to Kimberly which is a mining town as water in mining towns usually has a problem. In Richards Bay (another mining town) there is a lot of salt in the water and in Kimberly there is a lot of dirt in the water. For example, if you were to boil the water from Kimberly you will see dirt at the bottom of your kettle with brown stains which are hard to remove. This just shows how dirty the water is. And if there have been water cuts for a couple of days and when you try to open tap the water will be brown, which is a major problem in Platfontein, hence the need for better water purification systems in place. As a result of consuming contaminated water, people in Platfontein are already suffering from water-related illnesses including diarrhea and skin conditions.

There is a problem with soil conditions especially in Platfontein in the Northern Cape Province because it is an arid place. The area does not receive much rains therefore the soil conditions are not good for most crops as they lack necessary nutrients. The community lacks understanding about the soil conditions in the area, and what crops are suitable to be planted there.

The Samburu community in Kenya are pastoralists as they keep animals which is their main source of livelihood. They move from place to place in search of adequate pasture lands and water. Due to the recent dry spell, water sources are dry and there is no water. Both women and girls are walking long distances of about 20 kilometres per day to search for water. This search usually goes on from day until night. In order to save the water they bring back home, some women and girls bath wherever they find the water. The long journeys they partake on in search for and carrying water has impacted their wellbeing as some of them are suffering from backaches. In addition, the water they collect is not so clean to be suitable for drinking, but because they have no other options, they consume this water resulting in them suffering from water-related illnesses. School children have to bring their own water in one or two litre bottles from their homes to school because there is no water in school.

In Central Asian countries, including Pakistan, local farmer communities and water user associations play a pivotal role in managing irrigation demand for agriculture. In agriculture, the sector with the highest water demand and strategic water management is no longer optional it is essential for ensuring long-term national food security and this need becomes even more critical in the context of increasing water scarcity. (i). Within Warabandi system, which is a rotational method of water distribution, remains a lifeline for millions of farmers. It allocates fixed time slots for water delivery based on landholding size, requiring farmers to utilize their share efficiently. (ii). However, without reliable methods to estimate their short-term water requirements, farmers often rely on guesswork and experience. This results in either overuse leading to wastage and inequity or most of the time underuse, which affects crop productivity. (iii). One of the most pressing needs, therefore, is the ability to accurately forecast irrigation water demand to support timely and efficient scheduling within the constraints of the Warabandi system.

Egypt faces significant water scarcity due to its arid climate, rapid population growth, and dependency on the Nile River. Limited rainfall and inefficient water management exacerbate the crisis. Space technology can play a crucial role in monitoring water resources, optimizing agricultural water use, and identifying potential groundwater sources.

Increased sedimentation, reduced water quality, and ecosystem degradation have been a major environmental threat to the catchment areas of Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria. All these issues have been brought about by soil erosion in the upper sections of the two lakes where the source rivers feeding the two lakes originate. The use of space technology such as remotely sensed satellite imagery and other geographic information system (GIS) methods to assess and analyse soil erosion patterns in these two catchment areas will be able to develop solutions that will help to quantify the rate of sedimentation and come up with policies and targeted interventions to enhance soil and water conservation measures in these areas. Soil erosion in the catchment areas enhances sediment deposition into the two lakes, reducing storage capacity in terms of volume and also affects livelihoods that depend on these water sources.

Water availability is a critical issue for smallholder farmers in Southwest Kyrgyzstan, where natural springs serve as the primary water source for irrigation, livestock, and household use. However, these springs are becoming increasingly unreliable due to climate change, land degradation, and inefficient management practices. Water-related challenges include: Seasonal and interannual fluctuations in spring discharge, leading to water shortages during dry periods. Climate change impacts, such as rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, reducing groundwater recharge. Water loss due to inefficient infrastructure, including seepage and evaporation from open channels. Lack of monitoring and sustainable management strategies, leading to overuse and depletion of spring water resources. These challenges directly impact agricultural productivity, food security, and rural livelihoods, making it essential to develop adaptive water management strategies to optimize spring water use and ensure long-term sustainability. This research focuses on hydrological assessments, water conservation techniques, and community-based management approaches to improve water security for smallholder farmers in the region.

The environmental impacts of irrigated agriculture, which demands between 3,000 to 5,000 litres of water to produce just one kilogram of rice, are profound. Considering that 35 per cent of Pakistan’s freshwater is used for rice cultivation, often for crops destined for export, the need for a strategic realignment of water use priorities is evident. Current practices often treat water as an unlimited resource, a perspective that is unsustainable in the face of increasing domestic and international demands for food. The urgent need for systemic change is clear: only through the adoption of innovative technologies and the integration of up-to-date environmental data can Pakistan hope to meet the Zero Hunger (SDG 2) goal and achieve sustainable development. This project proposes using advanced remote sensing and land use modelling to effectively quantify agricultural land use practices and their changes over time. This integrated assessment framework is vital for building resilience against future climate extremes and for ensuring sustainable agricultural practices that align with societal and environmental priorities. By bridging the gap between current practices and agro-ecological suitability, this project aims to achieve a sustainable, food-secure future for Pakistan. We aim to interact with multiple stakeholders and agencies with diverse expertise to support data-driven approaches for sustainable water and crop management. Our goal is to build a network of professionals and researchers, facilitate knowledge and technology sharing, and contribute geospatial and analytical solutions to address the challenge.

This challenge centers on Jordan’s worsening water crisis, one of the most severe globally. The country faces chronic water scarcity due to naturally low rainfall, limited renewable water sources, and rapid population growth. The crisis is further intensified by climate-driven droughts and unsustainable groundwater extraction, which together threaten long-term water security. The challenge aims to develop space-based monitoring and management strategies to better understand, predict, and mitigate the compounding impacts of drought and groundwater depletion on national water systems.

This challenge addresses the increasing occurrence of floods and landslides in Peru, particularly in Piura region and Catacaos city, caused by extreme weather events such as massive storms which are exacerbated by climate change or by "El Niño" and "La Niña" phenomena. The goal is to simulate flood scenarios using a combination of rainfall data, satellite imagery, and digital elevation models (DEMs). This developed model aims to predict how water will advance across the landscape, which areas are likely to be affected, and to estimate river level rises. The relevant decision-makers and stakeholders include the following: • Local and regional disaster risk management authorities. • Municipal planning offices. • Emergency response units and civil protection agencies. • NGOs working on climate resilience. • Community leaders in flood-prone areas. These decision-makers require real-time and predictive information on: • Areas likely to be inundated. • Timing and extent of floodwater advancement. • Population density in affected areas. • Infrastructure at risk (roads, hospitals, schools, etc.).