OxTalks will soon be transitioning to Oxford Events (full details are available on the Staff Gateway). A two-week publishing freeze is expected in early Hilary to allow all events to be migrated to the new platform. During this period, you will not be able to submit or edit events on OxTalks. The exact freeze dates will be confirmed as soon as possible.
If you have any questions, please contact halo@digital.ox.ac.uk
REACH (www.reachwater.uk) was a long term, interdisciplinary research programme that delivered improved water security for over 10 million people in Africa and Asia. In 2024, it won the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Research Engagement. A defining feature of REACH was its strong commitment to developing early career researchers, embedding them in long-term research observatories, applied policy engagement, and research-informed approaches to water risk and resilience.
This lecture is the first in an annual series that will continue to share the latest on water security in research and practice. This year, we will hear from three REACH programme alumni who will share their work on water security in Ethiopia and Kenya, and reflect on research impact pathways in water security.
Speakers
Dr. Florence Tanui is a hydrogeologist who currently serves as a specialist at the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa in Nairobi. Her work primarily focuses on water security, groundwater management, and the impacts of climate change on transboundary water resources. Her research under the REACH programme focused on groundwater resources and management in Turkana and Kitui counties, Kenya.
Dr Engdasew Feleke worked on the REACH – WISER project, leading and designing social science research using qualitative methods to understand water security inequalities in Awash River Basin, Ethiopia. Her current role as Gender Specialist for the BRIGHT project with Ethiopia’s Water and Land Resource Center (WLRC). A €45 million programme, BRIGHT aims to improve resilience and reduce vulnerability to drought and climate change in Ethiopia. Engda’s work focuses on gender mainstreaming and social inclusion in Integrated Water Resource Management in the five basins covered by this project.
Dennis Ochieng Onyango Ong’ech was Observatory Coordinator for the REACH programme in Kenya and has gone on to co-lead research in the Climate Forecasting, Adaptation, and Legitimacy (ClimateForAL) project which aims to identify the optimal way to communicate climate information in Turkana, drawing on the preferences of end-users and the insights of traditional forecasters. Currently studying for a PhD at the University of Nairobi, Dennis holds an MSc. in International Development (Conflict, Security and Development) from Birmingham University (UK).
