Susan Kung’u Finance and Administration OfficerKatie Allan Information and Communication Officer

GHARP/KRA

Applying digital technology in a regional network: what we have

learned and are still learning

GHARP case study 2010

We will discuss…

1. Introduction (overview of GHARP’s work)

2. GHARP’s communications now!

3. Digital integration so far…

4. Challenges

5. Future plans

1. Introduction

A regional network of non-profit national rainwater associations from the Greater Horn of Africa countries

• Ethiopia Rainwater Association (ERHA)• Kenya Rainwater Association (KRA)

• Rainwater Association of Somalia (RAAS)• Rainwater Association of Tanzania (RHAT)

• Uganda Rainwater Association (URWA)

Greater Horn of Africa Rainwater Partnership (GHARP)

Vision

That all people have access to safe, reliable, and sustainable water supplies for productive uses

Mission

To improve:• water supply• food security• environmental sustainability

through development, improvement, and promotion of rainwater harvesting and management (RHM) systems and complementary technologies in partnership with other stakeholders.

GHARP’S project work

• Rainwater harvesting in rural areas, Kenya

• Domestic rainwater harvesting & capacity building, Uganda

• Promotion of rainwater harvesting initiatives, Ethiopia

• Advocacy & community-based projects, Somalia

Focus on KRA 1

Water pan, livestock trough, farm pond, & drip irrigation

School rainwater harvesting and sanitation systems

Focus on KRA 2

Rock catchment systems, sand dams, sub-surface dams

Focus on KRA 3

Bee-keeping, tree-planting, animal-drawn dam scoop, & hay baler

Focus on KRA 4

2. GHARP’S communications now!

1. Mvua newsletter (hardcopy & electronic)

2. Annual reports & strategic plans (hardcopies & electronic)

3. GHARP Website

4. GHARP Facebook and Twitter

5. Presentations at conferences

6. Occasional radio, TV, and press pieces

GHARP’S audiences

• Water NGOs

• Our members and partners, including the GHARP network of rainwater orgs

• Potential funders/donors

• Government (especially water, irrigation, and agriculture)

• Community-based organisations (CBOs)

• Farmers

Purpose of our communications

• Promoting the importance of rainwater harvesting and management (RHM).

• Selling the idea of RHM as a low-cost and sustainable option for poverty reduction.

• Communicating across the GHARP network• Technical knowledge-sharing.• Sharing information on the work of our partners,

project updates etc…• Ensuring RHM is visible to Government.

3. Digital integration so far…

• Website upgrade

• Building a Facebook fan base

• Building a Twitter network

• Google Booksearch

Current GHARP website

• A focal point for information• Project summaries• Photos• Contact details

But…

• Created in 2001• Static site (Dreamweaver)• Complicated to update• Collaboration not possible• No database or method for storing member info• No option for online donations

www.gharainwater.org

GHARP website upgrade

• A focal point for information & sharing (blog)• Interactive project summaries• Photos, video, audio• Members/partners section with database• Resource centre• Content management system (CMS)• Dynamic site• Collaboration IS possible• Twitter, Facebook, RSS• E-commerce option (ie donations via

website)

www.gharainwater.org

Facebook and Twitter

• Important for building a following and fan base

• Push and pull effect• Regular updates on

projects across the GHARP network

• Announcing events• Networking with other

like-minded organisations• Twitter = 31 followers• Facebook = 41 fans

www.facebook.com/GHARP.water and http://twitter.com/GHARP.rainwater

Google Booksearch

Downloadable sections

Hard copy bookdigitised

Option to purchase

Options for advertisingrevenue

Challenges

• Low broadband capability (changing with new fibre-optic cable).

• Technical complexity of Dreamweaver (some html knowledge preferable).

• Sourcing a web design supplier in Nairobi – cost versus quality.

• Ensuring site design which has impact in both East Africa and in main donor countries.

• Issues with ISP and hosting services in Kenya.• Managing digital integration as a small NGO network on

a low budget.• Decisions & investment on use of languages in addition

to English (Kiswahili, Amharic, local languages).

Future plans

• Completion of our upgraded website & training on CMS.• Growing our Facebook & Twitter fans/followers.• Linking Facebook updates to farmers and CBO’s using mobile

technology (Opera Mini).• Encouraging information sharing and debate via the GHARP blog

and especially with the GHARP network.• Encouraging donations & funding via the website.• Animated maps of project sites (Googlemaps?)• Animated map of technical components of a rainwater harvesting

system• Earning revenue via Google Booksearch.• Monitoring website usage via Google Analytics.• More radio slots with promotion of website for further info.• Translation of selected hard copy & digital text into Kiswahili,

Amharic, and local languages.

Thank you

Thank you