[June 15–17, 2026, Nairobi, Kenya] The Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC) participated in the WATDEV Final International Conference, held from June 15–17, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme “Integrating Grassroots Knowledge and Research into Water and Soil Management in Africa.” The conference brought together researchers, policymakers, development practitioners, development partners, and farmer representatives from across Africa and Europe to explore innovative approaches for addressing the continent’s growing water, land, and climate challenges.
The event served as the culminating platform for the European Union-funded WATDEV Project, which aimed at strengthening the integration of indigenous knowledge systems with scientific research and was implemented by a consortium of African and European institutions to promote sustainable land and water management practices.
Key recommendations included promoting interdisciplinary research that combines scientific and indigenous knowledge systems, developing policy frameworks that recognize local knowledge, strengthening partnerships among governments, academia, civil society, and communities, and ensuring greater inclusion of women and youth in natural resource management initiatives.