Scottish ‘varsity pumps K600m for water

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) of Scotland has, through its Centre for Climate Justice, embarked on a K600 million (about $816 000) project to improve access to water among the poorest and most vulnerable groups in Malawi and Zambia.

The project is funded by the Scottish Government’s Climate Justice Fund and GCU has since partnered University of Malawi and University of Lusaka.

GCU’s Centre for Climate Justice director Tahseen Jafry said the Water for All project seeks to help build sustainable capacity in achieving equity and entitlement in accessing water.

She said: “Rural communities, particularly women and children, face challenges in accessing water, often walking long distances daily to public water points to fetch water and at risk from suffering risks of contracting disease from contaminated water.”

Jafry expressed delight that both the governments of Malawi and Zambia recognise the implications climate change has brought on their countries.

She said a number of frameworks and policies are set to promote sustainable water resources management and facilitate the equitable provision of adequate quantity and quality water.

GCU Principal and Vice-Chancellor Pamela Gillies expressed delight that the university has secured backing from the Scottish government’s Climate Justice Fund for the project to improve vulnerable communities in the two countries.

She said: “We can now build upon the existing work that we have undertaken with the Scottish Government, the Mary Robinson Foundation and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to promote a sustainable environment for communities in Malawi and Zambia.” n