Tackling Water Scarcity and Governance in Maji Ndogo: A Data-Driven, Human-Centered Approach

This project aims to address water scarcity, infrastructure challenges, and governance issues in the virtual state of Maji Ndogo, using a blend of data analytics and community insights. With a focus on both short- and long-term solutions, the goal is to improve water access, quality, and management systems for residents across key regions like Sokoto, Amina, Zuri, and Amanzi.

Key Components:

1️⃣ Community Engagement and Stakeholder Testimonies:

We capture the perspectives of villagers, students, healthcare workers, traders, and mothers to understand the daily challenges of water access and governance.

2️⃣ Water Infrastructure Assessment:

Our analysis reveals that 43% of the population depends on shared taps, with queues exceeding 120 minutes in peak hours. Additionally, 28% of wells are contaminated, and 45% of home systems are non-functional due to infrastructure failures.

3️⃣ Governance and Corruption Analysis:

We investigate how inefficiencies and mismanagement affect water distribution, eroding community trust. The project provides recommendations for better governance to improve transparency and resource management.

Planned Solutions and Deliverables:

️ Temporary Water Trucks for River Communities:

Dispatch trucks to provide immediate relief while drilling new wells, starting in Sokoto.

️ Filtration Systems for Wells:

Install Reverse Osmosis (RO) filters for chemically polluted wells and UV filters for biological contamination, ensuring clean water access.

️ Optimizing Shared Tap Usage:

Send additional water tankers to high-demand taps during peak hours. Install new taps in towns like Bello, Abidjan, and Zuri, reducing wait times to below 30 minutes, as per UN standards.

️ Infrastructure Repairs:

Prioritize repairs to reservoirs and pipelines in key towns such as Amina, Lusaka, Zuri, Djenne, and Amanzi, restoring functionality and access.

️ Home Tap Installations (Long-Term Goal):

While shared taps remain the short-term focus, home taps will be installed in areas where wait times stabilize, ensuring sustainable water access.

Tools and Expertise:

This project draws on SQL, Python, data visualization, and data cleaning to uncover actionable insights from large datasets of over 60,000 water sources. My expertise ensures accurate analysis, cross-verification, and strategic planning for sustainable water access and better governance.

Impact Goal:

Our mission is to reduce water wait times, improve water quality, and enhance governance—ultimately improving the health, productivity, and well-being of the people of Maji Ndogo.