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Project Supporting African Involvement in the EU Research Framework Programme

African Water is a two year (2006- 2007) Specific Support Action under the 6th Research Framework Programme of the European Commission. It aims at increasing involvement of African researchers in the water related components of the EU 6th and 7th Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development. Its focus on water and includes related topics with significance to the international development process. African Water therefore addresses natural sciences and engineering, as well as socio-economic sciences.

Project number 518066-1
Subject(s) DRINKING WATER , DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION : COMMON PROCESSES OF PURIFICATION AND TREATMENT , HYDRAULICS - HYDROLOGY , INFORMATION - COMPUTER SCIENCES , MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION , METHTODOLOGY - STATISTICS - DECISION AID , NATURAL MEDIUM , POLICY-WATER POLICY AND WATER MANAGEMENT , PREVENTION AND NUISANCES POLLUTION , RISKS AND CLIMATOLOGY , SANITATION -STRICT PURIFICATION PROCESSES , WATER DEMAND , WATER QUALITY
Acronym AFRICAN WATER
Geographical coverage United Kingdom, South Africa, Austria
Budget (in €) n/a
Programme FP6
Web site http://www.africanwater.net
Objectives

African Water is an initiative funded by the European Community with the aim to increase the involvement of African researchers in the water related components of EU funding programmes for research and development.

African Water wants to:
- distribute relevant information for the successful participation of African researchers
- facilitate African contribution to the design of the coming EU funding programme FP7
- contribute to establishing an international connected African network of water-related research


“Without embedded science, technology and innovation in development we fear that the ambitions for Africa will fail.”  (Joint Science Academies statement to the July 2005 G8 summit)

 

Objectives:

To contribute to achieving the water related Millennium Development Goals through building African water research capacity.
To increase the involvement of Africans in the EU Framework Programmes.
To increase the involvement of Africans in other donors’ research programmes.
Results

Workplan
The African Water SSA will be organised through five main work packages.

Information, Training and Communications
Written material will support information, training and dissemination activities (web site, brochures, posters etc.).
Working through Existing Networks

A database of African researcher and research organisation will be used to manage information on African researchers, and to be a tool in partner searches. The major EU water research/training centres will be used to publicise the SSA.
African Outreach
Activities in Africa (training sessions, dissemination, displays at conferences) will be used for outreach and building expertise.
Africa meets the Commission

A delegation of African researchers will visit Brussels during launch of FP7, to meet key EU programme officers and information providers.
Project Management

Administrative, legal, and financial aspects of the operation of the project
A suitable combination for a challenging task

This arrangement allows a suitable combination of activities focussing on the major African research centres of excellence – as well as wide area dissemination of information and training to African researchers. It will also enable discussion and collection of African views on future water and sanitation research requirements for Africa - and building the intangible human dimensions essential to the success of the project.
The research topic areas which will fall within the remit of the project are anything which might realistically be included in a Framework Programme work programme. African Water will provide information about the Thematic Programmes, the INCO programmes, Marie Curie mobility schemes and any other instrument which could have a bearing upon African water and sanitation research (e.g. ERA-Net, Policy support or NEST).
The project will take particular note of the need for research to develop innovative technologies in support of the WSS targets of the Millennium Development Goals. The SSA will ensure that as databases are populated with information about African researchers, that technological capacities can be separately identified. Efforts will be made to ensure that these African groups are made aware of the more technological components of the framework programme. The SSA will take note of the developing strategic research agenda of the Water Supply and Sanitation Technology Platform, and particular in identifying appropriate technologies for Africa. Information from the Technology Platform and the industrial partners involved will be used to improve African capacities to become involved in frameworks.
Period [01/02/2006 - 31/01/2008]

Partners

  • Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH)
    CEH is responsible for overall coordination of the project. CEH assists in integrating African involvement in the WSSTP developing of FP7. Cooperating closely with Commission staff CEH is responsible for the coordination of outreach to the African water research and management communities.
    Coordinator acts as project coordinator
    Type
    Country United Kingdom
    Web site http://www.ceh.ac.uk
    Contact Mr. Neil Runnalls ,
    Position: Project Coordinator
    Phone/fax: +44 1793 442516, +44 1793 442528
    Email: director@ceh.ac.uk
  • Water Research Commission (WRC)
    WRC provides vital input from Africa on the practical methods to be taken to mobilize the wider African research community. WRC will undertake a series of communication / dialogue activities targeted at these members of the WSS sector. The research needs in respect to innovative financing mechanisms will be the particular remit of Water Research Commission’s activities.
    Country South Africa
    Web site http://www.wrc.org.za
    Contact Mr Kevin Pietersen,
    Position:
    Phone/fax: ,
    Email:
  • Loughborough University, Water, Engineering & Development Centre (WEDC)
    WEDC leads the communication activities directed at low technology water supply and sanitation sector. WEDC will mobilize its extensive network of past and current students and research co-workers in Africa. Training material for release to the major water training centres for African’s in Europe will be developed and tested at WEDC.
    Country United Kingdom
    Web site http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk
    Contact Mr Ian Smout,
    Position:
    Phone/fax: ,
    Email:
  • hydrophil. consulting & knowledge development
    HYDROPHIL is responsible for the design and the implementation of the web site of African Water. HYDROPHIL manages the dissemination of information through the web site and cares for the integration of web communications with those of the EUWI.
    Web site http://www.hydrophil.at
    Contact Mr. Thomas Zipper,
    Position:
    Phone/fax: ,
    Email:
  • UK Research Office (UKRO)
    UKRO will provide a water and sanitation specific email news and information briefing service to African research organizations. UKRO also leads communication of project activities and objectives to other Brussels offices of the IGLO network.
    Type
    Country United Kingdom
    Web site http://www.ukro.ac.uk
    Contact Ms. Amanda Crowfoot,
    Position:
    Phone/fax: ,
    Email:
  • European Commission
    Country EC
    Web site http://ec.europa.eu
    Contact Mr. Zissimos Vergos,
    Position: Project Officer
    Phone/fax: ,
    Email:
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