Rainwater Harvesting for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change - Senegal

This activity is promoting rainwater harvesting to build climate change resilience in the Kaolack region in Senegal by bringing about awareness on water management issues and conducting training on harvesting techniques.

Fast facts

Over 1,140 students and 29 teachers in two schools in the Kaolack area now have access to water within their schools, improving hygiene, sanitation and promoting reforestation. This activity has introduced ecological sanitation by constructing urine-diverting dry toilets and urinals in two schools;
1,300 trees have been planted by children, parents and teachers;
Around 10,000 people residing in the rural community around the schools have indirectly benefited from the project activities.

The problem

Climate change effects in the different regions of Senegal will worsen as water availability becomes scarce. The projected impacts of climate change will reduce agricultural yield, shorten growth periods, increase soil degradation, increase and intensify bush fires, which will further increase greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a loss of agro biodiversity.

The solution

This activity has provided and built water reservoirs for two schools in Senegal. These reservoirs harvest rainwater and provide enough water for bathing during dry periods. Authorities in Senegal have contributed to the project by connecting the schools to the city system, thus ensuring clean drinking water. This activity is providing education to students and teachers on hygiene and health, environmental protection, resource preservation, climate change and peace and tolerance.

Helping the planet

Teaching the effects of climate change and the vulnerability of the local population to water scarcity at the school level can help the population identify the impacts of climate change at local level. This project aims to increase resilience to climate change with holistic sustainability assessments and the implementing designs based on standardized criteria that will offer affordable, appropriate and cost-effective rainwater harvesting solutions, including monitoring and disinfection, for safe urban water supply.

Helping people

In both schools, a Parents-Authorities-Children-Teachers (PACT) group was set up to collaborate on different project themes. Training sessions have been organized to provide hygiene education and environment and waste management information for teachers. Specialists and project managers at the local level, are being engaged to provide technical compliance and are charged with maintaining water distribution facilities that collect the rainwaters. People are being trained on how to use and maintain the ecological toilets. Training is also provided on reforestation techniques, with pilot activities being conducted in the school gardens.

Scaling Up

This activity has focused its efforts on strengthening the capacities of the PACT committee through education and training. PACT members have fostered a sense of responsibility for the environment and are transferring that responsibility and knowledge to their children and communities.