Decentralized Water Markets and Seasonality in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with Brian Waters
In this seminar, Brian Waters (PhD Candidate in Geography, York University) will explore the water markets of the informal settlements in Freetown, Sierra Leone. In Freetown, there are twelve distinct types of water sources that those in the informal settlements could choose from, and this research project sought to understand these choices so that future projects can be rooted in the consumers’ preferences and habits. The survey results showed a distinct change in water sources by season, indicating how vital a temporal component is to understanding and improving water sources. This project also worked with local disaster management organizations to map and inventory water sources in 8 communities across Freetown and recorded various characteristics of each.
Waters’ presentation will be an engaging, narrative journey through this project’s research and discovery process, ending with key insights and findings. He hopes that by deeply understanding existing systems, researchers and practitioners may develop culturally sensitive and community-based projects that will steadily and sustainably improve water resources and their management.
Additional Material:
Speaker Profile
Brian Waters is a dedicated scholar and practitioner with a diverse academic and professional background. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Non-profit Leadership, which strongly influences his inclusive and communication-based research interests. He earned Master’s degrees in both Urban Planning and Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois, where he graduated as a Fulbright scholar.
Currently, he is pursuing his PhD in Geography at York University, where he aims to lead the academic field in decolonial research practices and decentralized water sources (wells, boreholes, packaged water, etc.) throughout the Global South. He is currently designing his PhD research project that will provide evidence-based guidance to organizations grappling with the question of water source ownership, control, and administration. At the core of Brian’s work is his passion for participatory action research. He firmly believes in the power of collaboration and leverages research as a tool to benefit all actors involved in water security. Over the years, Brian has led numerous studies and development projects covering a broad spectrum of topics, including urban transportation, energy access, urban agriculture, poverty alleviation, and access to clean drinking water.
Register below and join us on Wednesday, January 24, at 1 p.m.
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Please find the recap and recording here.
