PoWER launches another 10 research projects

For full details, see Research Bulletin Issue_3 at www.waterknowledge.net/publication.asp . It concerns the call for proposals for medium- to large size collaborative research projects funded under the aegis of the UNESCO-IHE Partnership Research Fund (UPaRF), which was launched on 5 January 2009. Based on a report of an external evaluation committee of four reputed persons, the Rectorate of UNESCO-IHE approved the funding of the following 10 research proposals. The 10 research proposals were selected from a total of 14 proposals, which in turn were selected from an initial number of 30 pre-proposals.

The 10 projects take place in more than 15 countries and involve more than 30 different collaborating institutes.

NATSYS - Natural systems for wastewater treatment and reuse: technology adaptation and implementation in developing countries.
Partners: UNESCO-IHE (Netherlands), Universidad del Valle (Colombia), Birzeit University (Palestine), and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia). Team leader: Saroj Sharma, E-mail: s.sharma@unesco-ihe.org

POWER2FLOW - Hydropower-to-environment water transfers in the Zambezi Basin: balancing ecosystems health with hydropower generation in hydropower-dominated Basins.
Partners: UNESCO-IHE (Netherlands), Eduardo Mondlane University (Mozambique), WATERNET Water Capacity Building Network for Southern Africa (Zimbabwe), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Switzerland), and WWF International (Zambia; Mozambique, Netherlands). Team leader: Lindsay Beevers, E-mail: l.beevers@unesco-ihe.org  

MARAFLOWS - Environmental flows for people and ecosystems in the Mara River Basin.
Partners: UNESCO-IHE (Netherlands), University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Egerton University (Kenya), Sokoine University (Tanzania), Jomo Kenyata University of Agriculture and Technology (Kenya), Florida International University Global Water for Sustainability Program (USA), Lake Victoria South Catchment Area, Kenyan Water Resources Authority, Lake Victoria Basin Office, Ministry of Water & Irrigation (Tanzania), and WWF Eastern Africa Regional Program Office (Kenya). Team leader: Michael McClain, E-mail: M.McClain@unesco-ihe.org

UWIRA - Impact of untreated wastewater on natural water bodies: integrated risk assessment.
Partners: UNESCO-IHE (Netherlands), Birzeit University (Palestine), An-Najah National University (Palestine), and Palestinian Water Authority.  Team leader: Jochen Wenninger, E-mail: J.Wenninger@unesco-ihe.org 

CHE - Conserving hydrological and ecological functions through payment for watershed services, with special references to South-Central Bolivia.
Partners: UNESCO-IHE (Netherlands), Universidad Mayor de San Simon (Bolivia), Fundacion Natura Bolivia, and VU University Amsterdam. Team leader: Stefan Uhlenbrook, E-mail: S.Uhlenbrook@unesco-ihe.org

ACCION - Adaptation to climate change impacts on the Nile River Basin.
Partners: UNESCO-IHE (Netherlands), NBCBN-Hydraulic Research Institute (Egypt), Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia), Makerere University (Uganda), University of Dar es Salam (Tanzania), University of Nairobi (Kenya). Team leader: Ann van Griensven, E-mail: A.vanGriensven@unesco-ihe.org

FORESEE - Operational flood forecasting, warning and response for multi-scale flood risks in developing cities.
Partners: UNESCO-IHE (Netherlands), Universidad del Valle (Colombia), Pontificia Univesidad Javeriana (Colombia), Dirección de Prevención y Atención de Emergencias (Colombia), National Weather Service (USA), and Deltares (Netherlands). Team leader: Micha Werner, E-mail: micha.werner@deltares.nl  

PROBE - Benchmarking for pro-poor water services provision.
Partners: UNESCO-IHE (Netherlands), University of Sao Paulo (Brazil), Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo (Brazil), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), Aqua Vitens Rand Ltd. (Ghana), Power and Water University of Technology (Iran), National Water and Wastewater Company (Iran), SUEZ Environment (France), IWA (Netherlands), Vereniging van Waterleiding Bedrijven in Nederland, United Nations Children and Education Fund (USA). Team leader: Maarten Blokland, E-mail: m.blokland@unesco-ihe.org  

AGLoCAP - Adaptation to global change in agricultural practices.
Partners: UNESCO-IHE (Netherlands), Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand), Water Management Branch, Department of Irrigation, (Nepal). Team leader: Shreedhar Maskey, E-mail: s.maskey@unesco-ihe.org

CC-SIOTI - Climate change impacts on seasonally and intermittently open tidal inlets.
Partners: UNESCO-IHE (Netherlands), Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand), University of Moratuwa (Sri Lanka), University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka), Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organisation (Australia), Foundation for Environment, Climate and Technology (Sri Lanka), Deltares (Netherlands), and Lund University (Sweden), Team leader: Roshanka Ranasinge, E-mail: r.ranasinghe@unesco-ihe.org