Evidence and research

External Evaluation on the DFID-funded programme 2013-2016

This is the final evaluation of the three-year DFID-funded project that ended in October 2016 which set out to support 20 self-help groups (SHGs) in southeast Kenya to build 62 sand dams. Read more

The potential for sand dams to increase the adaptive capacity of East African drylands to climate change

This paper addresses the analysis and comparison of vegetation at sand dam sites and control sites over selected periods of drought, using the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI). The results show that vegetation biomass was consistently and significantly higher at sand dam sites during periods of extended droughts. It is also shown that vegetation at sand dam sites recovers more quickly from drought. Read more

An Assessment of the Microbiological Water Quality of Sand Dams in Southeastern Kenya

Water stored within sand dams is clean, and safe to drink! This is according to a 2018 paper written by Cranfield University Water and Science Institute. Read more

Sand dams: rainwater harvesting or groundwater recharge?

In this study, Cranfield University attempted to quantify the flows and understand the water balance of sand dams. Read more

A summary of: An Assessment of the Microbiological Water Quality of Sand Dams in Southeastern Kenya

A brief summary by Cranfield University of the 2018 published paper. Read more

Latest

Walking for water

In 2018 I've took part in a Barclays IOM Sand Dam expedition and the experience was so amazing that I've decided to help out once again.

How Africa will be affected by climate change.

Recent studies show Africa will suffer disproportionately in the coming years from the global climate crisis. That is unless we can seek to better understand and limit the effects of climate change across the continent's diverse patchwork of climate systems.

John Gives A Dam

I'm participating in the Kenya February 2020 expedition to provide water access to rural Kenyans, but more importantly, to give the women and children of the community closer access to quality water sources so they can spend more time on education, health care, and economic development. I'm excited for what should be a trip of a lifetime!

£108,285 raised in Big Give Christmas Challenge 2019!

Thanks to all who donated to our annual match-funding campaign!

What is a sand dam?

1 million sand dams for 0.5 billion people by 2040

Read about our plan to directly support other organisations to build sand dams, in turn, realising our vision to support millions of the world’s poorest people by helping them to transform their own lives through water and soil conservation in drylands.