The Southern & Eastern Africa Rainwater Network (SearNet) hosted at the World Agroforesty Centre (ICRAF), in collaboration with member country associations has been organizing annual stakeholders’ conferences since 1998. The 15th SearNet Conference will be hosted bySearNet at the Enashipai Resort and Spa in Naivasha, Kenya from November 4 - 9, 2012.

The overall conference objective is to facilitate sharing of experiences on research, development, promotion and adoption of rainwater harvesting and management (RHM) systems among diverse stakeholders working in Africa and other parts of the world. The conference is being organized by SearNet secretariat in collaboration with RAIN Foundation.

The rationale of organizing the conference is based on the premises that RHM systems is one of the options that can enable sub-Saharan Africa strive towards meeting the MDGs and develop sustainable coping strategies for mitigating the impacts of ensuing climate change and environmental degradation. However, the level of awareness creation and rate of adoption vary from country to country. For instance, rainwater harvesting has not been accepted as a viable enterprise that can be expanded to solve the ever-growing demand for clean water in some countries. Other countries have, not only developed guidelines and clear policies, but allocated substantial financial resources for RHM projects. There is different level of involvement of development agencies and partners in supporting rainwater harvesting activities in many countries. The level of research and development in RHM also vary from one country to another.

Therefore, the conference will bring various stakeholders together to share experience with the aim of promoting RHM as a viable intervention for disaster mitigation and sustainable development. It is evident that some of the challenges of achieving the MDGs can be addressed through the adoption of RHM systems and complimentary technologies. It is envisaged that the conference will initiate a process of formulating sustainable policies, strategies and action plans for coping with persistent drought against the backdrop of anticipated devastating impacts of climate change especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Conference venue will be at the Enashipai Resort and Spa in Naivasha, Kenya. The contact details are: 

Enashipai Resort and Spa
Naivasha, Kenya

Telephone :+ 254 51 213 0000/ 254 713 254035
Email: sales@enashipai.com; info@enashipai.com

Address: P.O. Box 75332 , 00200 Nairobi
Website: www.enashipai.com

 

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ABOUT NAIVASHA
The term ‘ Naivasha’ is derived from the local Maasai name Nai'posha (later misspelt by the British to Naivasha), means ‘ rough water’ because of the sudden storms which can arise. Naivasha is a market town in Rift Valley Province, Kenya, lying north-west of Nairobi. It is located on the shore of Lake Naivasha and along the Nairobi - Nakuru highway and Uganda Railway. Naivasha is part of the Nakuru District. The main industry is agriculture, especially floriculture. Naivasha is also a popular tourist destination. Hell's Gate National Park, Longonot National Park and Mount Longonot are nearby attractions. Tours also have included Lake Naivasha, to observe birdlife and hippopotamus behavior, as well as other wild animals.

Language
The official languages in Kenya are Kiswahili and English. However, there are a total of 69 indigenous languages spoken in Kenya.

Weather in November, December
This is the beginning of the short rains characterized by long sunny spells. Temperature ranges between 34°C/194°F and 20°C/68°. It is a good idea to have a warm sweater or jacket for the sometimes chilly nights.

Currency
Kenya’s currency unit is the Kenyan Shilling (Ksh). The exchange rate is about Kshs 83 to 1 US Dollar; Kshs 109 to 1 Euro; Kshs 135 to 1 Sterling Pound. Changing money is easily done through Bureau de Change and in hotels. International credit cards can be used for payments at the Hotels and in some restaurants. Note that most of the ATM machines in Naivasha also accept VISA and Mastercard withdrawals, in local currency. In case of Travellers Cheques, please note that original purchase slips (original Bank advice slips) and passport will be required by the Bank for all transactions for local currency.

Telephone Services
Land line as well as mobile services are widely available in Kenya. Mobile service operators (in no particular order) are Safaricom, Airtel, Yu and Orange.

Transport
Local Taxis are available from most of the hotels. Please enquire at the Reception of the hotel. It is generally not safe to move around Naivasha at night alone. If you have to move at night, do so in groups, or use a Taxi called by your hotel reception. Please negotiate the fare before you get into the taxi.

Bank Business Hours
Naivasha has several banks; these are (in no particular order) KCB, Barclays Bank, Postbank, CFC Stanbic, Equity Bank, Family Bank and K-Rep Bank. The hotel and the conference Secretariat can assist you should you want to visit a bank. All banks offer foreign exchange facilities at minimal commission per exchange. All businesses are open week-days from 08:00 hours - 17:00 hours, Saturdays 08:30 hours - 12:30 hours whereas banks operate from 09.00 hours – to 15.00 hours during the week and on some Saturdays 09.00 hours – 12.00 hours. There are also a number authorised Forex Bureau operators close to the workshop venue. Note that it is illegal to conduct forex transactions in the streets.

Time
Kenya is GMT + 0300 hours.

Security
In keeping with the acceptable practice elsewhere in the world, visitors are advised not to leave cash and valuables in their hotel rooms but to make use of hotel safe deposit boxes or safes. Visitors should not carry large sums in cash on their persons while walking on the streets: there are master pickpockets here and there. Lady visitors are advised to be careful with their handbags in crowded places and busy streets. As in all major cities, walking at night alone should be avoided. It is advisable to always be cautious as you would anywhere else.

Field trips and social tours
Plans are being made to have the field trips around the catchments of Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria. Delegates will see
Technical tours will cover RWH activities by Rotary Club of Nakuru and Kenya Rainwater Association
Social tours will cover The Great Rift Valley, flamingos of Lake Nakuru national park and hot springs of Lake Bogoria national reserve
Other touristic features after the conference are Hell’s Gate National Park, Geothermal and Menengai and Longonot craters.

Caution
Lake Naivasha is a crocodile and hippo infested lake. Hence we strongly caution all delegates against swimming in the lake at any time. Boat rides and tours must be under the direction of an experienced guide. Typically, hippos come out of the water at night to graze in the nearby bushes and it is particularly important that night time walks be restricted to enclosed areas.

Electricity voltage
In Kenya the voltage is 220/240 volts, 50 Hz, AC. The plugs are 3 point square, 13 amp. Those coming from North America with IIOv/60Hz appliances should be sure to use an appropriate transformer.

The conference is designed to facilitate sharing of experiences in rainwater harvesting and management (RHM) through presentation of technical papers and posters on planning research and development activities. It will be a forum for information exchange on rainwater harvesting and management amongst professionals and stakeholders through technical paper presentations, discussions and field excursions.

It will also be a platform for creating partnerships in solving water scarcity problems, floods, famine, droughts, environmental degradation and water-borne diseases affecting many regions of the world.

Participants are requested to register online for the conference

CONFERENCE THEME
" Financing Rainwater Harvesting Interventions for Scaling-up Climate Change Mitigation in the Dry Lands "

CONFERENCE SUB-THEMES
There will be five sub-themes selected to address different aspects of water harvesting and management. Each sub-theme will have the following as cross-cutting issues: Rainwater contribution to MDGs; Environmental, Social, Economic, Policy, Legal & Institutional issues.

Sub-Theme 1: Scaling-up of Case Studies
Sub-Theme 2: Mapping Rainwater Harvesting sites
Sub-Theme 3: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Sub-Theme 4: Food Security and Livelihood
Sub-Theme 5: Food Security and Livelihood.

The tentative conference programme is as follows:

Sunday 4th November 2012
Arrival at Naivasha and Registration

Monday 5th November 2012
Registration (continued)

Opening Session

Address by Guest of honor
Keynote address

Parallel Sessions 1

Parallel Sessions 2

Tuesday 6th November 2012

Plenary
Parallel Sessions 3

Parallel Sessions 4

Parallel Sessions 5

Wednesday 7th November 2012

Plenary
Field Visit and Social tours

Thursday 8th November 2012

Plenary: Field visits review

Technical wrap-up
Reports from National Associations
Conference Review
Closing Ceremony
Closing Ceremony

Friday 9th November 2012
Departures

Southern and Eastern Africa Rainwater Network (SearNet)
SearNet is a regional network operating in 10 countries in southern and eastern Africa and its members are national rainwater associations. SearNet has over the last 13 years supported the establishment and strengthening of national associations, with the aim of enhancing promotion and adoption of rainwater harvesting management

Rainwater Harvesting Implementation Network (RAIN Foundation)
RAIN RAIN is an international network with the aim to increase access to water for vulnerable sections of society in developing countries - women and children in particular - by collecting and storing rainwater. Started in December 2003, RAIN focuses on field implementation of small-scale rainwater harvesting projects, capacity building of local organisations and knowledge exchange on rainwater harvesting on a global scale.

World Agroforestry Centre
Established in 1978 as ICRAF, The World Agroforestry Centre is part of the alliance of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) centres dedicated to generating and applying the best available knowledge to stimulate agricultural growth, raise farmers’ incomes and protect the environment. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, The World Agroforestry Center operates five regional offices located in India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi and Mali, and conduct research in 18 other countries around the developing world and continues to agroforestry research in developing countries

Registration fees :
Each participant will be required to make a contribution of USD 1200, which will cover the following: costs associated with conference facilities and equipment, accommodation (standard rooms), provision of meals and refreshments during the workshop, transport as well as secretarial support. Participants who pay before September 30th 2012 will pay USD 1200, and those paying after or upon arrival will pay USD 1250. Banking details are provided below. Deadline for confirmation of participation to the workshop is 15 October 2012

Participants are requested to register online

Important Dates
Deadline for registration and confirmation of participation: October 15, 2012
Deadline for submission of Abstracts:September 15, 2012
Deadline for confirmation of participation: October 15, 2012
Conference dates: 4 November - 9 November, 2012
Receipt of conference materials by registered participants:4 November 2012

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Getting to Naivasha
Naivasha, located 90km from Nairobi, is accessed through the Nairobi – Nakuru highway, which is an hour and a half drive from Nairobi.

Travel Arrangements
Participants are requested to make their own travel arrangements/flight bookings, as well as arrangements for obtaining a visa. You are advised to book flights well in advance. Flight must be booked to Nairobi. Participants will converge at the SearNet Secretariat office at the World Agroforestry Centre Nairobi, and will then be driven to Naivasha. Transfers from the airport to the Secretariat will be arranged by SearNet provided the arrival information is provided well in advance. Participants must notify Ms Rose Kaggwa-Mindu (r.kaggwa@cgiar.org; searnet@cgiar.org) of arrival/departure (flight number and time) by latest Monday 29th October 2012 in order to ensure transfer arrangements are in place.

Visa Requirements
Please arrange with the nearest Kenyan Embassy for your visa entry requirements. It is possible to get your visa on arrival. Please contact Ms Rose Kaggwa-Mindu (r.kaggwa@cgiar.org; searnet@cgiar.org) to determine whether your country is eligible for this facility. If you are from any other country requiring a visa before arrival, submit an application at the nearest Kenyan embassy. Also scan your passport details (showing full names, passport number, dates of issue and expiry and type of passport) and email it to: Ms Rose Kaggwa-Mindu (r.kaggwa@cgiar.org; searnet@cgiar.org). NB: It is important to indicate your port of entry and dates of arrival in and departure from Kenya, so please confirm your flight details first. p>

Vaccinations
Please ensure vaccination against Yellow fever and cholera; it may be requested upon your entry into Kenya. Although not required for entry into Kenya, you should, for your own protection, also take a preventive anti-malarial drug.

Accommodation
All participants will be booked in the following hotel: Enashipai Resort and Spa (Tel:+(254)-51-2130000 / Tel:+(254)-713-254035 ; Email: sales@enashipai.com as part of the conference package. Cost of accommodation for participants is included in the USD 1200 contribution. All bookings will be made by SearNetPlease note that accommodation will be booked only from the night of 4th November 2012, to morning of 9th November 2012. Those wishing to arrive earlier than 4th November, or leave later than 9thth November 2012, will have to make their own arrangements for the extra nights.

Workshop Documents and Materials
All participants wishing to present papers at the conference are requested to submit their full papers to SearNet Secretariat (Ms Rose Kaggwa-Mindu: - r.kaggwa@cgiar.org; searnet@cgiar.org) no later than 5th September, 2012.

Registration
Participants are requested to register online. The deadline for confirmation of participation to the workshop is 30th September 2012. Collection of hard copies and other conference materials (such as an identification badge allowing access to the meeting room), late payments, will take place on Sunday 4th November 2012 from 17:00 to 19:00 hours in the reception area of the Enashipai Resort and Spa. There will also be another Registration Desk located in the Secretariat at the venue of the conference, from 8:00 to 8:30 am on 5th November 2012.

 

For various logistical details please contact the following:

 

SearNet Secretariat
ICRAF Building, Gigiri
P.O. Box 30677-00100, GPO
Nairobi, Kenya

Ms. Rose Kaggwa-Mindu
Tel: + 254 (0) 20 722 4422
Fax: +254 (0) 20 722 4000
E-mail searnet@cgiar.org; r.kaggwa@cgiar.org  

Ms Eunice Wamwangi
Tel: + 254 (0) 20 722 4419
Fax: +254 (0) 20 722 4000
E-mail: e.wamwangi@cgiar.org

 

Successful 14th SearNet International Conference

The fourteenth SearNet conference which took place from the 13th to the 18th November 2011 in Mpumalanga was hosted by Environmental Education Organization (ECOLINK) with support from SearNet and the World Agroforestry Centre.

This conference had a total of 60 participants, 24 being international participants. The conference was supported by CTA, RAIN Foundation, CORDAID and DARDLA (Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration).

With the theme of “Scaling up Rainwater Harvesting Innovation for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation”, participants presented papers emanating from studies or projects covering the following sub-themes: Livelihood Based Innovations and Community Empowerment for Climate Change Adaptation, Approaches to Upscaling and Outscaling Rainwater Harvesting Technologies and Innovations, Greenwater Management Techniques for Agricultural & Environmental Sustenance, National and Regional Strategies for Climate Change Mitigation in the Environment, Food and Sanitation nexus and Micro Financing Opportunities for Rainwater Harvesting in East and Southern Africa.

Highlights of the 12th SearNet Conference included the diverse presentations on RWH, field excursion to project sites and SearNet Chairmanship mantle moving from Ethiopia to South Africa. Mr. Sorssa Natea of the Ethiopia Rainwater Harvesting Association was the outgoing Chair and Mr. Moses Makhweyane of DARDLA is the new Chairperson of SearNet for the year 2012. He will hold this position for one year.

Among the conclusions and recommendations reached during the conference were - the need for RWH Associations to fundraise for the conference and network more with each other - West African countries to forward their applications to join SearNet and become members - Best practices and success stories presented during the conference to be applied on a local level by each RWH Association - The need to strengthen SearNet through fundraising such that it is able to sponsor participants to present at the annual conference.

At the conclusion of the conference, it was decided that the 15th SearNet International Conference will be held in Nairobi, Kenya.

The proceedings of the 14th SearNet Conference will be made available for all to download.