Situation

There is a need to connect specific skills sets to ensure that groundwater resources are managed fairly and sustainably for the benefit for all. The mismanagement of water and lack of expertise often leads to a series of catastrophes; the World Bank has estimated that water supply failure in Africa over the past 20 years has cost more than $1.2 billion, and particularly in emergencies situations, a lack of expertise leads to poorly designed and constructed water points and environmental damage.

Solution

Groundwater Relief's Rapid Response Unit will provide hydrogeological expertise to support humanitarian organisations to develop more successful and sustainable groundwater resources to those in crisis worldwide. The involvement of groundwater expertise, early in an emergency humanitarian response will greatly reduce the waste of finances. Groundwater Relief is in a unique position globally to co-ordinate a Rapid Response Unit, with 270 members based in 25 countries, speaking 33 languages.