A word from our Chairman

Monthly updates from David Jordan OBE, Chairman of Excellent Development.

Adapting to a new world

Chairman David Jordan OBE reflects on the challenges and achievements from 2021, whilst also looking at the year ahead as we plan to use all the experience, knowledge, progress and support we’ve gathered over the past 20 years to expand on and improve our work through 2022 and beyond. Read more

Waiting for the dust to settle

Chairman David Jordan OBE shares his thoughts on the discussions, debates and fallout from COP26, the connections with Excellent's work and ambitions, and how your support of our upcoming Big Give campaign can help us support more people and wildlife to become climate-resilient. Read more

Looking through the rear-view mirror

Chairman David Jordan OBE looks at the highlights from our 2020/21 annual report, including multiple successful sand dam projects and inspirational community stories. Read more

Building Resilience

Chairman David Jordan OBE looks at how our sand dam projects are helping communities to build climate resilience in the face of climate change, land degradation and desertification. Read more

Red Alert!

We are on red alert. That’s the stark message from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the IPCC. In their recent report scientists from across the globe have concluded that ‘climate change is now widespread, rapid and intensifying’. Read more

Dignity at work

In his latest blog, David reflects on one of the most important elements of Excellent's work: supporting people's independence and dignity. Read more

Threats and rewards

From bleak forecasts from the UN’s World Desertification and Drought Day (June 17th), to awards won by Excellent Development, it's been a busy month! Read more

Thinking about a post pandemic world

Our Chairman looks at the progress made, and work still be done as the longer-term repercussions of COVID-19 become more and more evident. Read more

Marking Earth Day 2021

Our Chairman commentates on the national day designed to galvanise people across the world to become environmental citizens. Read more

The meaning of water

What does water mean to you? That’s the question being asked on World Water Day. Read more

Here come the girls

8th March marks International Women’s Day and a chance for all of us to reflect on the contribution women are making in the board room, in governments and on the ground. Read more

Holding out hope

One thing COVID-19 has shown us is that extraordinary things can be achieved by collective action. Read more

Latest

End hunger with sand dams

We need your help so that we can continue to support more vulnerable dryland communities to take part in sand dam and climate-smart agriculture projects, and empower them to end hunger and achieve long-term food security.
£107,505.25 raised in Big Give 2021 - thank you!

Between November 30th and December 7th we are took part in The Big Give Christmas Challenge, raising over £100,000 for four sand dams in southeast Kenya; 2 for communities in Ukambani to provide farmers with a lifelong supply of clean water, and 2 in Tsavo National Park to improve access to water for the range of wildlife.
Excellent Partner ASDF wins 2021 Thiess International River Prize

Excellent's strategic partner, the Africa Sand Dam Foundation, has won the prestigious Thiess International River Prize for projects along the Thwake River in southeast Kenya.
Paraffle Embroidery partner with Excellent Development for Black Friday and The Big Give

Paraffle Embroidery are partnering with Excellent Development and will donate 25% of all of their sales from the Black Friday weekend towards our Big Give campaign!

A brighter future with water

We need your help so that we can support more dryland communities to gain access to clean water, prevent spreading diseases like COVID-19 and in turn build a brighter future for themselves.
What is a sand dam?
Donate

Please donate what you can to transform lives and land with sand dams and clean water.
Reversing land degradation and desertification

Conservation of the environment is critical to the economic development of people living in drylands.
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.
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.
Our approach

Find out more about Excellent's approach, from working with self-help groups to why we partner we on-ground, local organisations.
End hunger with sand dams

We need your help so that we can continue to support more vulnerable dryland communities to take part in sand dam and climate-smart agriculture projects, and empower them to end hunger and achieve long-term food security.
Watch how sand dams work

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

It’s astonishing to see what can be achieved through these simple, but highly effective, techniques of climate-smart agriculture.