Community Engagement and Support

FIU has delivered clean water, sanitation and hygiene solutions to communities throughout the world. These efforts have focused on low-cost solutions, community engagement and government collaborations. 

• Tanzania

  In the Wami Ruvu basin, FIU worked with local governments and NGOs to maximize the supply of clean safe water for basic needs while also creating opportunities for business ventures among local villagers so clean water could be a financial benefit in addition to a necessity. Micro-lending at the village level encouraged private investment. This effort helped foster 27 new village micro-savings and micro-financing programs that serve more than 25,000 people in the area. More than 70 water access points have been created serving some 16,000 people, and more than 20,000 people have completed sanitation and hygiene education.

• Tanzania, Burkina Faso and Mozambique

  Sub-Saharan African countries have large, well-experienced regional, national and international organizations in the water delivery, sanitation and hygiene field, yet local organizations lack the necessary technical capacity to solve challenges in these areas. FIU worked with local organizations to close the knowledge gap through technical training and education to help them develop sustainable, state-of-the art, locally tailored approaches to water delivery, sanitation and hygiene.

• Morocco

  An FIU team traveled to the El-Haouz region of Morocco to increase access to drinking water, improve hygiene practices and encourage collaboration among local authorities to govern water. In the agricultural Doukkala Province, FIU worked with small farmers to improve their water-use practices which led to enhanced livelihoods and improved sustainability. The project brought clean water to hundreds of children in local schools, provided more than 1,000 people with improved access to sustainable water and educated 3,000 people on best hygiene practices.

• Ghana, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso

  This FIU-led and USAID-supported project increased access to safe water and sanitation as well as improved hygiene in Ghana, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. Our team introduced water and sanitation technology and promoted better hygiene at the community level through education. We used experiences from this project to develop models that could be scaled to other regions in Africa.

• Rwanda

  FIU’s Rwanda Integrated Water Security Program was designed to improve the sustainable management of water quantity and quality to positively impact human health, food security, and resiliency to climate change for vulnerable populations in targeted catchments in Rwanda. The project included low-cost and innovative technologies for water supply, sanitation and agriculture in Rwanda, along with multiple-use water services, sanitation marketing and product/supply chain development. Simultaneously, program managers worked with local communities to educate and improve individual hygiene behaviors.

• India

  FIU worked with local community partners along the Wakal River basin to support equitable access to and sustainable use of water resources. This included facilitating communication and collaboration among stakeholders, while building capacity of basin residents and local governments in water resources management. To improve rainwater harvesting methods, our scientists studied locations of harvesting structures to measure rates of groundwater recharge. We coordinated training sessions for local governments (known as Panchayats) and state-level representatives on topics in integrated water resources management to provide leaders with the tools to make more informed decisions about water management in the Wakal River basin.

• Ecuador and Peru

  The Pastaza River basin begins in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador and ends at the Marañon River in Peru, which carries its waters into the Amazon. The lives of thousands of people are closely tied to the Pastaza River’s resources. A team led by FIU established the regular collection of water data to be used by local authorities and formed local committees to participate in effective water management. The project also developed a fisheries management plan, advanced sound petroleum exploration management and promoted collaboration among native communities on both sides of the border.

• Georgia

  In this South Caucasus region of Europe, most of the population has access to potable water. The biggest issues here are waste management and conservation. Many surface waters are severely polluted, forests are illegally logged and grasslands are overgrazed. Inappropriate irrigation and agricultural practices have degraded large areas of arable land through erosion and salinization of soils. FIU worked with local officials to protect the water supply and promote the benefits of preserving the country’s abundant natural resources.

• Kenya

  Through an international collaborative effort, our scientists are working to save Kenya’s Mountain Bongo Antelope, the largest and most endangered antelope. Through an innovative project that is repatriating captive stock to a Kenyan preserve, our efforts are helping to protect Mt. Kenya and with it, the high-mountain ecosystem that supplies 80 percent of Kenya’s people with clean, fresh water.Through an international collaborative effort, our scientists are working to save Kenya’s Mountain Bongo Antelope, the largest and most endangered antelope. Through an innovative project that is repatriating captive stock to a Kenyan preserve, our efforts are helping to protect Mt. Kenya and with it, the high-mountain ecosystem that supplies 80 percent of Kenya’s people with clean, fresh water.

• South Florida

  FIU’s College of Arts, Sciences & Education connects lifelong learners with real university research through initiatives led by its Education Outreach Team. We provide a range of experiences, from at-home activities to community events, summer camps and much more. We maintain collaborative partnerships with corporations and community organizations and offer volunteer service opportunities all in support of our environment. Our goal is to inspire the next generation of explorers who will be making discoveries and finding solutions to create a more sustainable future.

• Biscayne Bay

  In August 2020, Biscayne Bay went into respiratory distress. High water temperatures coupled with significant excess nutrient pollution nearly killed our bay. Hundreds of fish and marine life dead — an ecosystem’s cry for help. One of FIU’s two main campuses is located along Biscayne Bay and for decades, FIU has led research on its health. When dead fish started popping up, FIU research teams responded immediately, deploying special autonomous surface vessels and buoys to measure temperature, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll to better understand what was happening and what was needed to stop it. They worked with local officials to help re-oxygenate the bay. Their work continues as the bay is continuing to show signs of an ecosystem in trouble. More than just science, our work is focused on communicating with local communities to educate on the role they play in the health of the bay as well as the need for improved protections at the local and state levels. Recently, the university proposed a new initiative for a comprehensive monitoring network for the bay to identify potential problems before they become crises. The researchers have been actively pursuing funding opportunities to advance this effort. Biscayne Bay needs saving. FIU has the expertise and the will to give a lifeline to this tropical lagoon that is ecologically and economically essential to Miami.

• Florida Coastal Everglades

  Researchers in FIU’s Institute of Environment are leading the science behind one of the largest ecosystem restoration projects on the planet — the Florida Everglades, an iconic and imperiled ecosystem. As part of our extensive efforts on behalf of the Everglades, our scientists lead an Outreach Team that provides free community opportunities to expand environmental literacy and participate in current science initiatives. This team also collaborates with the local arts community to engage new audiences in conversations about protecting the Everglades. And they also offer research experiences for local school teachers and high school students.

• Miami-Dade County

  FIU has received a grant from Miami-Dade County for Environmental Education to support an accelerated education initiative and promote stewardship among local residents and businesses. Our team in the Institute of Environment works directly with communities, linking top scientists, educators, students and municipal leaders to identify and implement solutions-oriented opportunities. We have included stipends for neighborhood ambassadors to extend our reach into the residential and business community even further and have engaged FIU’s Global Learning for Global Citizenship program to maximize new outlets for reaching students. Our trainings approach incorporates science and technology into experiential fun activities to the skills needed to adapt and persevere through the challenges of climate change in our region.
  Our activities focus on:

  • general environment
  • urban forestry 
  • water pollution 
  • water conservation and drinking water quality 
  • solid waste management