An Integrated Water Point Monitoring System for Vulnerable Populations in Somalia
THE CHALLENGE
Somalia is a fragile state that faces several challenges including, but not limited to, inter-communal conflict, terrorism, drought, and food insecurity. One of the contributing factors to the current conditions in Somalia has been the El Nino Southern Oscillation, which previously led to successive years of below-average rainfall in the country. The decreased rainfall caused many issues for local pastoralists who must search for water and pasture to maintain their herds, and massively increased levels of water insecurity among the general population. In this context, forecasting technologies are critically needed to inform proactive risk mitigation measures such as water rationing and planning for life-saving water provision.
THE SOLUTION
To develop a technology that would serve this purpose, World Vision Canada, with WAGTECH Projects, implemented an early warning system to inform water provision for internally displaced peoples in Somalia. The team successfully installed, configured, and tested hydro-metrological data loggers in 10 locations across Puntland which collected and transferred real-time remote hydro-metrological parametric data to a cloud server via a 3G-enabled mobile network. Several stakeholders and relevant government line offices, WASH cluster partners, and water use committee representatives were trained in the operation and management of the hydro-metrological equipment and capacitated in data collection, visualization, analysis, and interpretation. By the end of the CHIC funding period, World Vision began working with local governments and other partners to establish early warning systems based on groundwater levels and weather parameters in other parts of the country as well. The team also worked to finalize the ongoing task of creating an online platform that will ensure consistent access to raw and analyzed data to the government and relevant partners. In the meantime, the project will be handed over to the government of Puntland for them to run for the foreseeable future.
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