Our Partners

Through our partnerships between the UK and Kenya, the Groundwater 2030 project has formed a strong collaboration working together to explore new ways of protecting and managing groundwater quality.

In the UK, our project partners are the Universities of Southampton and Surrey. Our partners have a track record of working successfully together. The University of Surrey and VIRED International have been collaborating since 1999, working for 14 years on several projects together and are currently collaborating on a project funded by the SPLASH Sanitation Consortium to investigate barriers to sustainable sanitation in low income peri-urban settlements.

Our Kenyan partners are Jaramogi Oginga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST, formerly Bondo University College) and the Victoria Institute for Research on Environment and Development International, an NGO based in the Great Lakes region.

UK Partners

University of Southampton

The Groundwater2030 project is being co-ordinated by Dr. Jim Wright who is a senior lecturer in Geography and Environment at the University of Southampton. Jim has over 10 years’ research experience in drinking-water and health in developing countries, as well as over 20 years experience in GIS and spatial analysis.

In addition to being overall co-ordinator for the project, Jim will lead the spatial planning component of the work. The Geography and Environment group have expertise in applying spatial analysis to problems in low income countries, using techniques such as geostatistical analysis and spatial modelling of population in developing countries.

 

University of Surrey

Dr Pedley is a Reader in environmental engineering at the Robens Centre for Public and Environmental Health (RCPEH) at the University of Surrey and leads the microbiological fieldwork in this project. He is a microbiologist with over 30 years experience of research and consultancy work. For the past 20 years he has specialised in water quality, pollution control and public health with a strong focus on bacteriological and virological techniques, and public health microbiology related to water quality.

Since 1988 the University of Surrey has managed a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for the Protection of Water Quality and Human Health. The status was given in recognition of the work that was being done to develop widely applicable methods for water system surveillance in developing countries.

Our Kenyan Partners

VIRED

The Victoria Institute of Research on Environment and Development (VIRED) International is an NGO established in Kenya whose vision is to be a leading research body in information dissemination and to support projects that integrate environmental conservation with development programs while improving livelihoods among the poor. Over the last 12 years VIRED International has engaged in research, extension, training, consultancy services and implementation of community based projects in environmental conservation, climate change impact mitigation and many other development initiatives. The Institute has worked widely with relevant government departments, NGOs, community based organisations, communities, universities and partners from all over the world.

The institute’s operational strategies involve key stakeholders and local communities in problem and needs identification through scientific mechanisms and education, so as to enlist their participation in intervention design, planning and implementation from the grassroots level. Mr. Joseph Okotto-Okotto is the Director of Technical and Research Support Services at the institute having worked with the Lake Basin Development Authority for the last 28 years. He has accumulated a wealth of experience and risen to the rank of manager for planning, research and special projects. He has also been involved in consultancy work both institutionally and personally with organizations such as UNICEF, UNDP, USEPA, ITDG, and DHV consulting engineers, thereby bringing a wide ranging and extensive experience to the project.

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) is one of the fastest growing universities in Kenya. The university has several schools, and water research features prominently in the School of Business and Economics, School of Engineering, School of Biological and Physical Sciences, and the School of Spatial Planning and Natural Resource Management. The water-related research that the university is currently involved in includes:

• Addressing drinking water quality challenges in developing countries
  (case study of Lake Victoria basin)
• WASH in collaboration with UNICEF
• Groundwater quality modelling

Dr Lorna G. Okotto is a lecturer at the School of Spatial Planning and Natural Resource Management (SSPNRM) at JOOUST. She has over 10 years experience in research and consultancy work in water and sanitation related issues with focus on developing strategies for improving access to water for the un-served and poorly served in developing countries especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Okotto has participated in and carried out water and sanitation research funded by EPSRC, the World Bank and SPLASH- the European Union Water Initiative European Research Area Network under the 6th frame work of the European Union.