Sharing hard-earned expertise to increase groundwater resources
Sido Ide (Niger) is a UN Volunteer Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Specialist. At 63 years of age, he serves with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Chad. "This was my chance to serve as a global citizen and make a positive impact on the lives of refugees," he says.
As part of his role with UNHCR Chad, Sido oversees WASH facilities, coordinates the installation of new infrastructure and ensures that WASH requirements are implemented by local partners. This increases groundwater resources, enabling refugees and host communities to improve agricultural production, provide water for their livestock and generate income through the sale of surplus produce.
Preserving water resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Joseph Wilner from Haiti and Nusrat Shaheen from Pakistan are among the UN Volunteers preserving water resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Both serve with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO). Their service has had a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the Bukavu population. This is their story.
As one of the fastest-growing cities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bukavu faces challenges due to the lack of clean water. According to provincial water supply, the population of Bukavu has grown from 650,000 in 1993 to three million presently.