Overview

Since 2020, EWB-UConn has partnered with the Gambella community in Kenya to address water scarcity and improve agriculture sustainability. Gambella is a rural village near the city of Isiolo with around 2,000 residents living in 200 households. Farming and livestock are their primary sources of livelihood, making reliable access to water critical for the community’s well-being. During the dry season, the community faces water shortages, limiting their crop production and long-term food security.

This project focuses on designing and implementing a sustainable water system that includes a borehole, solar-powered pump, water storage, and irrigation network. By improving the community’s access to water for crops and livestock, EWB-UConn’s goal is to strengthen local livelihoods and reduce their dependence on seasonal rainfall. Working closely with the community members and local partners, EWB-UConn is committed to creating a long-term solution that can be maintained and managed by the community.

Our Progress

In 2020, UConn-EWB remotely conducted a hydrogeological survey. The survey identified areas with strong groundwater potential and provided recommendations for the borehole placement. These results guided the design of the project and laid the foundation for the successful drilling of the community’s new water source.

In June 2023, a team from EWB-UConn traveled to Gambella to initiate the implementation phase. During this trip, EWB-UConn successfully drilled a new borehole, collected measurements for the future irrigation system, evaluated existing infrastructure, and worked directly with community members to better understand their agricultural needs.

In May 2024, the EWB-UConn team returned to Gambella for the second time. The EWB-UConn installed a solar-powered pump, solar panels, and irrigation piping, repaired the existing water storage tank, and constructed the caretaker and electrical quarters to support long-term operation and maintenance. This trip provided the community with a functional water distribution system capable of providing reliable water for irrigation and agricultural use.

Following the implementation trips, EWB-UConn has now entered the monitoring and evaluation phase, with the project team continuing to work closely with community members and local partners to assess the performance, reliability, and long-term sustainability of the water system. EWB-UConn plans to conduct a monitoring and evaluation trip at the end of 2026 to evaluate system performance, gather community feedback, and ensure the project continues to meet the needs of the Gambella community for years to come.

Partners

As our primary Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) partner, Global Hope Network International (GHNI) serves as our main in-country contact. GHNI’s mission is to bring sustainable solutions to underserved communities, focusing on water access, food security, wellness, education, and income generation. GHNI helps us coordinate communication between the project team and the Gambella community while providing local expertise and guidance throughout the project.