Strengthening Universities Capacities for Mitigating Climate Change Induced Water Vulnerabilities in East Africa

Kenya and Uganda still experience significant rural poverty levels despite a multitude of interventions and some impressive economic growth rates recorded in the past two decades. Agriculture, rural development and allied industries are identified as common denominators across both countries as means to alleviation of poverty and attainment of better wellbeing. However, over the last 20 years, climate change induced water vulnerability, uncertainties and stress further jeopardizes the performance of the agricultural sector. Projected climatic changes for Africa suggest a future of increasingly scarce water, collapsing agricultural yields and encroaching desert. There is no single organization that can handle climate change related issues on its own, yet existing relationships between universities on the one hand and communities, development partners and key government Ministries on the other hand is that of isolation and independent action. Public and private development actors have always criticized universities for not being responsive in the development domain including in the area of water resources and climate change threats. If universities have to be responsive, they have to engage more with the community and other development actors to learn with them. WATERCAP aims at increased innovation capacity through partnerships for outreach, research and training. This implies the strengthening of the collaborative capacities of researchers, lecturers and future graduates as innovation partners. Furthermore to establish partnerships between universities with development actors and the community focused on efficient water use to contribute to mitigation of climate change induced water vulnerability and uncertainty in small holder agriculture in Uganda and Kenya. By doing so, university training and research will become more relevant to development programs, and enhance skills in development of all partners.