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Groundwater Futures in Sub-Saharan Africa (GroFutures) will develop the scientific evidence and inclusive groundwater management processes by which groundwater resources can be used sustainably for poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It will improve understanding of the volume and renewability of groundwater in SSA, and develop robust models and tools to forecast available groundwater resources under changing climate, land-use and demand scenarios, including expansion of arable land under irrigation. GroFutures will examine current groundwater governance processes and identify pathways toward more sustainable and equitable use of groundwater resources that are reconciled to projections of changing demand and resource availability. It will assemble an international consortium of scientists with an unmatched track record of groundwater research and stakeholder engagement in SSA that both leverages substantial additional investment (£461,000) and engages with research and development communities across Anglophone and Francophone Africa. GroFutures will also establish a Network of African Groundwater Observatories that representing the primary groundwater environments and development governance challenges in SSA that features a new dataset of 25 records of groundwater-level observations that are 2 to 6 decades duration from across SSA enabling the most rigorous analysis of the relationships among climate, land-use and groundwater recharge that has ever been conducted in the tropics. Dedicated basin observatories will be constructed that will enable very detailed monitoring of the physical process by which groundwater is replenished and application of a new method for quantifying the volume of groundwater in African aquifers thereby overcoming fundamental limitations in present knowledge of groundwater in SSA. GroFutures will also employ an innovative and participatory approach to the management of groundwater which will enable for explicit consideration of the views of poor people in making decisions over the allocation and development of groundwater resources.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a fatal zoonotic disease following ingestion of eggs of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. The eggs develop to larval forms (cysticerci) in various tissues, including those of the central nervous system, leading to NCC, mainly characterized by epileptic seizures. NCC management guidelines have been published by the WHO, however, their uptake in national policies is very limited. In NeuroSolve, we will demonstrate and promote a methodological approach for conducting health research that leads to improved adoption into policy and clinical practise. We will validate the approach by investigating evaluation- and implementation of an antiparasitic combination treatment and a serological test. Two health innovations that can make a major positive contribution to NCC management. The proposed approach includes (1) strengthening of clinical and research capacity through training and mentoring of early career researchers, clinicians and frontline healthcare workers as well as upgrading infrastructure for surveillance and control, (2) demonstrating the improved pragmatic effectiveness of the combined treatment on quality of life (3) evaluating the potential impact of serological testing on the patient outcomes and the wider health system through a simulation study, (4) demonstrating the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit of the proposed health technologies, (5) developing and validating an implementation strategy that addresses identified barriers for uptake using the robust implementation frameworks and 6) enhance research results uptake into national and international guidelines and health policy through engagement of relevant policy makers throughout the project period and beyond. If the intended impacts are reached, NeuroSolve will improve health outcomes of NCC patients, provide a blueprint for meaningful implementation research and demonstrate to policy makers how research can strengthen healthcare systems.

Tanzania

The main aim of the project Navigating the digital landscape: universities partnering for change (NIAGARA) is to utilize the partnership between universities in Zambia, Tanzania, Poland and Norway to improve and expand information services by developing libraries’ ICT infrastructure and librarians’ digital competencies.The specific objectives of the project are as follows:1. To strengthen the digital infrastructure in partner university libraries in Tanzania and Zambia that will benefit all students and staff and ensure inclusive and equal access to library and information services2. To examine current digital competencies needed for efficient provision of library and information services3. To develop and implement short-term courses The primary target groups are the HEI-librarians and LIS-students in Zambia and Tanzania. Further target beneficiaries are all students and faculty members (including those with fewer opportunities) working in the noted countries. NIAGARA relates strongly to UN SDG4: Quality education and 10: Reduce inequality.NIAGARA is composed of seven work packages (WPs): WP1: Management, WP2: Digital competency assessment, WP3: Education and Research support, WP4: Inclusion and equity, WP5: Infrastructural capacity, WP6: Blended mobility, and WP7: Dissemination and sustainability. Some important outputs are open courses and interactive learning materials on digital competency and data management. Information and outputs will be accessible through the project website and social media.Knowledge gained from the project will be informative for policy makers and leaders in higher education as well as governing bodies in regions that are looking to increase citizens’ digital competencies and even out digital divides. The results will be transferable to other HEIs, library and information science educators, and academic libraries and will contribute to scholarly discussions and research on issues related to open access and accessibility.