UNISWA Foundation submits E32m project proposal in Kuwait

The University of Swaziland (UNISWA) Foundation has submitted a proposal to potential investors in Kuwait for funding of about E32 million (US $4 241 472) for a strategic project; the Swaziland Water Quality Management Centre (SWAQMAC) initiated by the university’s Faculty of Science.
Through the project, the institution aims to strengthen the capacity of the Department of Chemistry in addressing clean water scarcity and related national priority issues such as poverty, health (malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS), nanotechnology innovation, education, renewable energy, gender inequality, institutional infrastructure, environmental degradation (pollution and climate change), import and exports, food insecurity, agriculture, research and development.
In addition, SWAQMAC attempts to build capacity in human resource development through building collaboration and research and development networks locally and regionally.
 In essence, SWAQMAC envisages to strengthen and advance the capacity of local communities in Swaziland to access clean water and also to transform science and technology ideas into useable products that will add value to the economic development of Swaziland.
It is anticipated that through national and international partnerships forged through the UNISWA Foundation, a world class facility with modern equipment for water quality assessment; making innovative and cheap purification systems from locally available materials and rural water supply assessment and management will be established.
The facility will have a community outreach programme for provision of service for analysis of water and other products of economic significance in Swaziland including products from the Swaziland Standards Authority (SWASA) and the agricultural, environmental and industrial sectors. This outreach programme will help maintain and sustain the activities of the institute for future generations to come.
The university identified a need for this project, citing the fact that the country does not have research institutions on science, technology and development issues.
 It says because of this, industries in Swaziland and government depend on South African Research Institutions for research and development initiatives which tend to be cost ineffective and also deprives the country of opportunities of capacity building.
“The country is, therefore, in dire need of service for research and development initiatives.
 These include initiatives in water quality and supply, quality assessment, environmental monitoring, energy from water, health (indigenous medicinal plants), water purification materials (nanotechnology) and water for agriculture and food security,” states the proposal.

Water and sanitation needs
The university found that insufficient or unsafe water and poor sanitation have been reported to be responsible for diseases among households including death among children from diarrhoea and infectious diseases.
The institution notes that public agencies that are involved in the provision of water include the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Water Board, Swaziland Water Services Corporation and NGOs (non - governmental organisations) while agencies like the European Union have seen 60 water earth dams being built for irrigation and livestock. However, due to lack of clean water this resource is being used for drinking by rural communities.
Sanitation has been noted to be a serious problem in rural communities and health statistics reflect high mortality rates for infants and children due to water-borne diseases. According to Demographic and Household survey, 47 % of urban households had flush toilets, 50 % use pit latrines and 2.5 % used informal disposal methods.
“There is thus and dire needs for water quality assessment from surface and ground water (boreholes). There is also need for cheaper water purification systems that could be used by rural folks,” the institution argues.
“The SWAQMAC, thus proposed in this document seeks to establish water quality analysis facility within its facilities with modern fast and efficient analysis methods for the improvement of quality of water supplies.”

Environmental Monitoring
Since the development of the concept “sustainable development” by Brundtland Commission Report in 1987, the world has accepted and in a large of number of countries, awareness is leading to action, the proposal notes.
With Agenda 21 of 1992 the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, environmental awareness became environmental action, as demonstrated by the mushrooming of national environmental action plans (NEAPs), particularly in the developing world. Swaziland enacted and established the Swaziland Environmental Authority (SEA).
“For any sustainable economic development a sound environmental developmental policy is a priority. Swaziland has its own share of environmental problems, including poverty with high population growth, increasing HIV cases, water quality, gender issues, drought, land degradation and soil erosion.
“There is thus a need for environmental monitoring, remediation and conservation strategies. This needs a well equipped facility that can provide consultancy and monitoring services to help in ensuring sustainable development in Swaziland that ensures provision of clean water and cheaper energy alternatives for under-privileged communities,” the university states.

Materials, engineering and energy needs
The university further notes that availability of potable water for human consumption is a serious problem in rural areas, which is about 70% of the total population of Swaziland.
“It is thus necessary to develop capacity for water purification nanotechnologies within Swaziland for the benefit of the under privileged minority of Swaziland. A centre for development and innovation in nano-materials for water purification, biosensors for early disease detection and materials for the construction industry is required.
“Swaziland has a variety of small rivers which could be used not only for the supply of water for human consumption but also for hydro-power generation. The second phase of the project of SWAQMAC will concentrate on this vision.”

Education and training needs
The institution also notes that there are presently minimum support methods to strengthen science and technology education at all levels of education in Swaziland. It says UNISWA is better placed to promote science and technology awareness in schools, industry and government.
“There is also need to promote water management from ground root education to post-graduate work at tertiary institutions. This initiative would help in human capacity building and subsequently economic growth for the country. There is shortage of training opportunities in engineering and entrepreneurship skills.
“SWAQMAC hopes to establish training in entrepreneurship and business skills to the faculty of science students in order to build capacity on self-employment and employment creation initiatives. This will help reduce the unemployment rate which currently stands at 65 % of the population.”

Poverty and food security
It is estimated that 66 % of the population receives incomes below the poverty datum line (PDL). The PDL was estimated at $56. The rural population, which comprises 70 % of the total) has little access to doctors, tap water, sanitation, transport, electricity, telephones and newspapers.
In particular 54 % of rural dwellers still lack access to portable water and 64 % lack adequate sanitation. Female headed homesteads, elderly and children headed household (due to HIV/AIDS leading to orphanage) are the most vulnerable groups. Food insecurity is common to all.
“It is proposed that SWAQMI will assist in the provision of clean water through research on water quality in surface, ground and earth-dam water systems used by rural communities.”

Infrastructure and equipment needs
In order for SWAQMI to fulfil its mandate in building National Capacity in Science and Technology, Research and Development, the university argues, a state of the art facility is required.
 It says this facility should have capacity for training and research from undergraduate to postgraduate level.
The institution notes that Swaziland has since established the Swaziland Standards Authority (SWASA) that is responsible for the establishment of standards ranging from climate, metrology, education, food, agriculture, laboratory proficiency testing and accreditation to imports and exports.
“A world-class laboratory that is capable of providing service to SWASA is required. All products to and from the European, American, African and Asian markets will be tested for quality in this facility.
This will help economic development through improvement in products and service quality between Swaziland and her trade partners.”
It states that the Chemistry Department is therefore better placed to take the lead in Research and Development projects in the Country since it will be the only unit in Swaziland that has a high concentration of highly qualified staff in chemistry.
There is therefore, a need to build capacity through strengthening of CHEMRADI with adequate facilities (equipment and infrastructure) to help address the National Development Goals.