Spatial Modelling of Solar energy Potential in Kenya

Solar energy is one of the readily available renewable energy resources in the developing countries within the tropical region. Kenya is one of the countries which receive an average of approximately 6.5 sunshine hours in a single day throughout the year. However, there is slow adoption of solar energy resources in the country due to limited information on the spatial variability solar energy potential. This study aims at assessing the potential of photovoltaic solar energy in Kenya. The factors that influence incident solar radiation which were considered in this task included atmospheric transmissivity and topography. The influence of atmospheric transmissivity was factored in by modelling monthly transmissivity factors from a combination of cloud cover, diffuse ratios and the effect of altitude. The contribution of topography was included by applying hemispherical viewshed analysis to determine the amount of incident global radiation on the surface based on the orientation of the terrain. GIS concepts were used to integrate the spatial datasets from different themes. The results showed that, about 70% of the land area in Kenya has the potential of receiving approximately 5kWh/m2/day throughout the year. In outline, this work successfully assessed the spatio-temporal variability in the characteristics of solar energy potential in Kenya and can be used as a basis for policy support in the country

Pathways from research to sustainable development: insights from ten research projects in sustainability and resilience

Drawing on collective experience from ten collaborative research projects focused on the Global South, we identify three major challenges that impede the translation of research on sustainability and resilience into better-informed choices by individuals and policy-makers that in turn can support transformation to a sustainable future. The three challenges comprise: (i) converting knowledge produced during research projects into successful knowledge application; (ii) scaling up knowledge in time when research projects are short-term and potential impacts are long-term; and (iii) scaling up knowledge across space, from local research sites to larger-scale or even global impact. Some potential pathways for funding agencies to overcome these challenges include providing targeted prolonged funding for dissemination and outreach, and facilitating collaboration and coordination across different sites, research teams, and partner organizations. By systematically documenting these challenges, we hope to pave the way for further innovations in the research cycle

Non-elite Environmentalisms in a Global Context: Olderkesi and Narok, Kenya: Report on Fieldwork and Stakeholder Engagement Workshop, October 2019

We are in a moment of profound environmental change, which presents challenges at local (water and food security), regional (land security) and global scales (climate change). Rural parts of Kenya have undergone substantial changes in recent years. Water resources and communities are under pressure from agriculture, industry and land management challenges like conservation, deforestation and soil degradation. Institution-led development and environmental efforts - whether addressing food security, nutrition, conservation or climate change adaptation - can sometimes compete or run counter to each other.With funding from the University of Southampton and a partnership with the Technical University of Kenya, an interdisciplinary research team came together to think about these institution-led (elite) development efforts and how they interact with the realities of (non-elite) communities in areas like Olderkesi in Narok County, Kenya. This short project will enable us to scope for a larger proposal next year that will bring together different partners and stakeholders. The team is made up of Dr. Emma Roe, Dr. Luke Olang’, Dr. Francis Oloo, Dr. Paul Hurley and Sospeter Wekesa, who bring together experience and knowledge across university and non-university settings.The team undertook two days of visiting communities and projects in the Olderkesi area, and held a workshop in Narok town with stakeholders from communities, government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). We say ‘environmentalisms’ in the plural because it isn’t one single thing, and we wanted to find out what ‘non-elite environmentalisms’ might be in this local context. They might be what communities are doing for themselves, from traditional indigenous ways of living or from newer innovations responding to environmental and social change. They might be things that people are doing within their own family or what they are doing as a wider community

Participatory flood modelling for negotiation and planning in urban informal settlements

Participatory modelling in water resource management–involving diverse actors in what is traditionally a purelyanalytical process–is thought to broaden stakeholder engagement and improve outcomes. Further research andcase studies are required to explore the practicalities of integrating meaningful participation within modellingprocesses in the water sector. Participatory modelling may be of particular interest within the context of urbaninformal areas, where the confluence of climate change, urbanisation and contested land requires new methods forengagement and planning. This paper develops new case-based knowledge to inform the application ofparticipatory modelling and planning for informal urban areas. Aflood-modelling project in the large informalneighbourhood of Kibera in central Nairobi, Kenya, is analysed using a newly established framework for theclassification of participatory modelling approaches developed by Basco-Carreraetal. in 2017. Conclusions suggestthat the further upstream more diverse stakeholders can be involved, the better the chance of co-producing newknowledge and of creating implementable plans and policies. At the same time, delivering‘co-design’of modellingprocesses in areas of limited co-operation requires a strong vision for participation, a tolerance for contention, awillingness to learn between actors and a budget to support additional time inputs.QC 20200917</p

Participatory flood modelling for negotiation and planning in urban informal settlements

Participatory modelling in water resource management–involving diverse actors in what is traditionally a purelyanalytical process–is thought to broaden stakeholder engagement and improve outcomes. Further research andcase studies are required to explore the practicalities of integrating meaningful participation within modellingprocesses in the water sector. Participatory modelling may be of particular interest within the context of urbaninformal areas, where the confluence of climate change, urbanisation and contested land requires new methods forengagement and planning. This paper develops new case-based knowledge to inform the application ofparticipatory modelling and planning for informal urban areas. Aflood-modelling project in the large informalneighbourhood of Kibera in central Nairobi, Kenya, is analysed using a newly established framework for theclassification of participatory modelling approaches developed by Basco-Carreraetal. in 2017. Conclusions suggestthat the further upstream more diverse stakeholders can be involved, the better the chance of co-producing newknowledge and of creating implementable plans and policies. At the same time, delivering‘co-design’of modellingprocesses in areas of limited co-operation requires a strong vision for participation, a tolerance for contention, awillingness to learn between actors and a budget to support additional time inputs.QC 20200917</p

Participatory flood modelling for negotiation and planning in urban informal settlements

Participatory modelling in water resource management–involving diverse actors in what is traditionally a purelyanalytical process–is thought to broaden stakeholder engagement and improve outcomes. Further research andcase studies are required to explore the practicalities of integrating meaningful participation within modellingprocesses in the water sector. Participatory modelling may be of particular interest within the context of urbaninformal areas, where the confluence of climate change, urbanisation and contested land requires new methods forengagement and planning. This paper develops new case-based knowledge to inform the application ofparticipatory modelling and planning for informal urban areas. Aflood-modelling project in the large informalneighbourhood of Kibera in central Nairobi, Kenya, is analysed using a newly established framework for theclassification of participatory modelling approaches developed by Basco-Carreraetal. in 2017. Conclusions suggestthat the further upstream more diverse stakeholders can be involved, the better the chance of co-producing newknowledge and of creating implementable plans and policies. At the same time, delivering‘co-design’of modellingprocesses in areas of limited co-operation requires a strong vision for participation, a tolerance for contention, awillingness to learn between actors and a budget to support additional time inputs.QC 20200917</p

Water Flow Behavior and Storage Potential of the Semi-Arid Ephemeral River System in the Mara Basin of Kenya

Alluvial corridors of ephemeral river systems provide viable opportunities for natural water storage in dry lands. Whilst alluvial corridors are widely recognized as water buffers, particularly for areas experiencing constant water scarcity, little research has been undertaken in Sub-Saharan Africa to explore their hydrological variability and water resource potential as alternative water sources for nearby communities. This study investigated the water flow behavior and storage potential of an ephemeral river system in the Mara Basin of Kenya for purposes of supporting water resources development and ecological sustainability. The water flow processes – including the recharge rates and water loss processes – from existing sand storage systems were established through monitoring of ground and surface water levels. Water samples along the alluvial corridor were collected and analyzed for major ions and isotopic signatures required to establish the water storage dynamics. The storage potential was estimated through Probing and Electrical Resistivity Tomography techniques, augmented with in-situ measurements of hydraulic conductivities and channel bed porosities. The mean annual storage volume in the alluvium of the study reach was estimated at 1.1 Mm3, potentially capable of providing for the annual domestic and livestock water demands of the area. Transmission losses into the alluvium beneath the ephemeral channel-bed were noted to attenuate the flood peak discharges, depending on the level of saturation of the alluvial bed. However, water storage in the alluvium was subject to losses through evapotranspiration and seepage through fractured bedrocks. The study demonstrated the potential of alluvial corridors as water storage buffers providing alternative water sources to communities within the dry land regions with water scarcity, thereby to supporting ecosystem sustainability.Water Resource

A drought monitoring and forecasting system for sub-sahara african water resources and food security

An experimental drought monitoring and forecast system for sub-Saharan Africa is described that is based on advanced land surface modeling driven by satellite and atmospheric model data. Key elements of the system are the provision of near-real-time evaluations of the terrestrial water cycle and an assessment of drought conditions. The predictive element takes downscaled ensemble dynamical climate forecasts and provides, when merged with the hydrological modeling, ensemble hydrological forecasts. A key element of the system is the provision of an intuitive and easy to use web interface to allow users to view the predictions and extract data for further analysis. The system shows encouraging performance at large scale when compared to other estimates of the land water cycle but notable errors when compared to local measurements. This is to be expected given the low density of monitoring networks, the high spatial and temporal variability of precipitation, and the heterogeneity of the land surface, as well as human influences, such as water and land management