Reine's Project

Project Description

Eduqu'EAU is an educational and scientific project that aims to analyze water-related

issues using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing, while raising awareness among young people and communities of the need for sustainable management of this essential resource. Through mapping, hands-on workshops and educational campaigns, the project combines science, education and citizen action to strengthen knowledge, preservation and good governance of water, particularly in Africa, and more specifically in Cameroon.

Project Objectives and Scope

The eduq'EAU project aims to promote sustainable and equitable water management

through the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing, while

strengthening the environmental awareness and technical skills of young people, educators and communities. This involves identifying and mapping water resources and issues (such as

pollution, flooding or lack of access), training students, teachers and school clubs in digital

mapping tools, and raising awareness of water conservation through workshops, educational

content and community campaigns. The project also aims to link the data produced with local

decision-making. It is aimed at schools, young leaders, NGOs, local authorities and the general public, with an initial implementation in the city of Yaoundé before a gradual extension to othern regions of Cameroon depending on partnerships.

Background and Rationale

Water is a vital resource at the heart of today's environmental, social and economic

issues, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where the challenges associated with its management are increasingly pressing. Between scarcity, pollution, recurrent flooding and unequal access, water crises directly affect public health, food security, local development and the stability of populations. In Cameroon, despite the relative abundance of water resources, many rural and urban areas suffer from limited access to drinking water, inefficient management and a lack of geospatial information for planning purposes.

At the same time, digital tools such as GIS and remote sensing are still little used in water education and governance, even though they offer powerful solutions for analyzing, visualizing and anticipating water issues. Faced with this situation, the eduqu'EAU project was born out of the need to integrate geospatial tools into education and community action in order to raise awareness, train and equip young people and local players. It responds to a dual need: on the one hand, to develop a water culture based on science, eco-citizenship and technology, and on the other, to produce local data useful for decision-making and territorial resilience. It's an innovative approach that combines technology, education and citizen participation to meet water challenges in a sustainable and inclusive way.

Project Objective

The main aim of the eduq'EAU project is to promote sustainable and enlightened water

management through the use of geospatial technologies, in particular Geographic Information

Systems (GIS) and remote sensing.

It aims to raise awareness among young people, educators and communities of the

importance of preserving this vital resource, while building their capacity to understand local

environmental dynamics. By means of point maps, produced at different times during the

project, the aim is to highlight improvements or deterioration in water quality, accessibility or

management in certain targeted areas. These spatio-temporal visualizations will make it

possible to monitor changes in water-related issues and support local decision-making.

Specific Objective

The specific objectives of the eduqu'EAU project are:

• Analyze water-related dynamics using GIS and remote sensing, producing point maps

that illustrate the improvement or deterioration of the water situation,

• Train young people, teachers and local players in the use of geospatial tools to enhance

their technical skills,

• Sensitize school communities and the general public to sustainable water management

through educational workshops and visual aids,

• Provide decision-makers and players in the field with clear, usable cartographic data to

guide their actions,

• Integrate water and environmental issues into learning spaces to encourage an

ecological culture rooted in local reality.

Stakeholder Needs

The stakeholders in the eduq'EAU project - including pupils, students, teachers, local

authorities, NGOs, researchers and decision-makers - have specific needs that the project seeks to meet. Young people and learners need access to modern educational tools, practical training in GIS, remote sensing and water issues, as well as spaces for self-expression and civic engagement. Teachers, for their part, need adapted teaching aids, free digital resources and capacity building to integrate water-related issues into their course content. Local authorities and decision-makers need reliable, up-to-date and visually explicit data (maps, summary reports) to support planning, risk prevention and improved water governance. NGOs and associations involved in water management and environmental education need technical partnerships, exploitable results and awareness-raising tools to reinforce their actions in the field. Finally, all stakeholders need a collaborative framework that is inclusive, accessible and sustainable, encouraging the exchange of knowledge, informed decision-making and the appropriation of results by local communities.

To achieve these objectives, the project requires material resources (computers, GPS,

internet connection), open-source software (such as QGIS), access to reliable satellite images,

as well as pedagogical support to ensure the transmission of knowledge. The support of

educational, institutional and community partners is also essential to broaden the project's

impact and ensure its sustainability. By combining geospatial data, education and awareness-

raising, eduq'EAU is positioned as an innovative initiative to strengthen water resilience on a

local scale.

Project Scope

The perimeter of the eduqu'EAU project mainly covers the urban and peri-urban areas

of the city of Yaoundé, with a concentration of activities in schools, as well as educational and local institutions likely to serve as relays. The project primarily targets young people (pupils, students), teachers, community players, local NGOs and municipal decision-makers. It extends to the collection, processing and visualization of geospatial data, the production of spot maps on the state of water resources, the organization of training sessions and the raising of public awareness through teaching aids.

However, the project has certain limitations, including dependence on freely available

satellite data, limited financial resources that can restrict territorial coverage and the frequency of activities, and sometimes difficult access to certain sites for field surveys. In addition, the appropriation of GIS tools by beneficiaries may require prolonged support and regular monitoring.

Technical and Functional Specifications

The eduq'EAU project is based on a set of functional specifications designed to ensure

consistency between objectives, activities and expected results. It integrates a GIS platform

(mainly QGIS) enabling the collection, processing, analysis and visualization of spatial data

relating to water, with the production of point maps illustrating situations of improvement or

degradation. Training modules are developed to introduce beneficiaries to the use of GIS tools and map reading. Digital and printed educational content is produced to accompany the

educational workshops, including guides, posters, explanatory videos and thematic sheets on

water. The project also includes a mechanism for documenting and archiving the data collected (in a structured, open repository), a database for monitoring the areas analyzed, and regular communication of results through illustrated reports and awareness-raising campaigns. Finally, collaborative interfaces are defined to facilitate interactions between stakeholders (teachers, students, NGOs, communities), through meetings, working groups and digital information sharing platforms. These specifications ensure that the project functions as an integrated system combining data, training, awareness-raising and decision support.

Planning

The evaluation method for the eduq'EAU project is based on a participatory and

continuous approach, combining self-evaluation, field observation, feedback from beneficiaries and analysis of the results produced. Qualitative and quantitative indicators are defined from the outset to measure the achievement of objectives: number of maps produced, number of beneficiaries trained, level of satisfaction of participants, impact of awareness-raising actions, level of appropriation of GIS tools, and degree of use of results by local authorities or partners.

Mid-term evaluations are carried out to adjust actions, followed by a final evaluation that brings together lessons learned, successes and points for improvement. With regard to risk

management, a number of potential challenges have been identified, such as poor availability

of certain spatial data, logistical difficulties in accessing target areas, partial mobilization of

partners, and initial reluctance on the part of beneficiaries to adopt digital tools. To meet these challenges, the project plans to continuously monitor open data, develop alternative travel plans, diversify partnerships (institutions, NGOs, municipalities), adapt teaching materials to participants' profiles, and set up listening sessions to strengthen community involvement. This dual approach guarantees both rigorous assessment and flexible adaptation to unforeseen circumstances.

Risk Management

Risk management for the eduqu'EAU project is based on the proactive identification of

potential threats to the smooth running of activities, and the implementation of appropriate

mitigation strategies. Among the main risks identified are the limited availability or low

resolution of satellite data, which could affect the quality of the maps produced; to remedy this, the project will favor the use of open platforms such as Sentinel Hub and Google Earth Engine, while cross-referencing sources. Another risk concerns logistical challenges in the field, in particular access to certain vulnerable urban or peri-urban areas, which will be anticipated through rigorous travel planning and local collaboration to facilitate access. The project also anticipates a risk of demobilization of beneficiaries, particularly if the technical content appears too complex; for this reason, training courses will be adapted to participants' levels, with visual, interactive aids and practical exercises. In the event of a lack of commitment from partners or institutional delays, alternative partnerships with local NGOs, private establishments or youth associations will be activated. Finally, technical contingencies (computer breakdowns, lack of Internet connection) will be covered by back-up solutions such as the use of offline software (QGIS), regular back-ups and local caching of critical data. This risk management system ensures that the project remains flexible, responsive and resilient in the face of uncertainty.

Evaluation Criteria

The success of the eduq'EAU project is based on a number of measurable and qualitative

criteria that reflect the achievement of its objectives. One of the first success indicators is the

effective production of relevant point maps, clearly illustrating the evolution (positive or

negative) of the water situation in the targeted areas. Another fundamental criterion is the

successful training of beneficiaries, assessed through the number of participants trained, their

level of acquisition of GIS and remote sensing skills, and their ability to reuse these tools

independently. The project will also be considered successful if awareness-raising activities

reach a large and diverse audience, with positive feedback on understanding of water-related

issues and observed changes in behavior. The quality and use of the materials produced (maps, fact sheets, reports, videos, teaching guides) will also be an important indicator, as will the ability of decision-makers or local partners to use the results in their decision-making. Lastly, the level of collaboration between stakeholders, the visibility of the project in educational and institutional circles, and the prospects for sustaining the project or replicating.