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

Latest

Jersey Overseas Aid – Kenya 2019 Expedition

Excellent Development supports communities in drylands around the world to transform their own lives with sand dams and climate-smart agriculture; empowering them to achieve lifelong access to water and food. Please donate what you can today to help the Kyekuyu self-help group in southeast Kenya and their community (whose sand dam is being built with the support of Jersey Overseas Aid), as well as other dryland farmers to transform their own lives through climate-smart agriculture.

"Life in school has become more enjoyable"

When water supplies are low, drastic measures are often turned to in efforts to collect it. The construction of a water tank in Utini Girls Secondary School in southeast Kenya has helped to lift this burden, according to testimony from members of the school community.

Enabling greater success

Having access to water on-site provides schools with the opportunity to grow and to try new things. In this story we see what new endeavours a water tank has enabled at Ngomeni Primary School, Kenya.

Thank you for tuning in to our BBC Radio 4 Appeal!

Thank you to all to tuned in to our BBC Radio 4 to hear our sand dam expedition volunteer, Sarah Parker, speak about the impact of sand dams and how they're helping farmers like Josephine to transform their lives.

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.

Donate

Please donate what you can to transform lives with sand dams and clean water.

Zimbabwe (Partner: Dabane Trust)

Dabane Trust and Excellent are working together with rural communities in the semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe to develop simple, appropriate and sustainable water abstraction and food production systems.

Sand dam manual

For everything you need to know about building sand dams, click here to read (and download for free!), Sand Dams: A Practical & Technical Manual.

Watch how sand dams work

Film explaining how sand dams work and their potential impact in the world's drylands

The challenge

Find out what are drylands, why they are they are such harsh regions to live, how sand dams are applicable in drylands and what difference they can make to over 40% of the world's land surface.

Job opportunities

September 2018 sand dam expedition with Barclays Isle of Man

Barclays Isle of Man volunteers and community members share highlights from the construction of a sand dam they worked together to build in southeast Kenya in September 2018.

Judith Eaton

Chief Operating Officer