Our publications
Resources produced during our past projects are accessible here.
For more than 10 years, we have capitalised documents on groundwater development, irrigation, drinking water supply and sanitation. You can find lessons learnt from the field, project reports, technical sheets, (training) manuals, videos, etc.
Check out and share the information you are interested in with the rest of the sector in order to support local enterprises and strengthen their technical and business skills.
Volterra 3 – User Manual
The Volterra 3 is an instrument that measures earth resistivity. It can be used to perform Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) or Horizontal Electrical Profiling (HEP). It was created by PRACTICA Foundation to serve the needs of geohydrologists, in particular for the siting of new boreholes. By introducing an affordable instrument with a user-friendly interface, it has been our aim to bring the potential of geophysics to a much broader audience. Find out more on our page dedicated to the Volterra
Developing a business case for toilet blocks
One of the result expected from the 3F project is the rehabilitation and extension of existing public toilets in the city of Fianarantsoa Madagascar, and the construction of two new building. This report explains the process of developing a business case for these public toilets. The goal is to set up a financially sustainable service of high quality.
Development of an app to supervise & coordinate emptying services
The smartphone app aims to improve the collaboration between the CUF and the operator of the emptying service. The approach adopted to achieve this consists in developing a management tool which effectively assists the company in analysing its performance and, based on data collected, to automatically generate the activity reports provided by the DSP contract in order to improve supervision by the CUF.
Système d’information et supervision des blocs sanitaires par la Communauté Urbaine de Fianarantsoa
Report presenting the methods used to collect data and supervised sanitary blocks during the 3F project in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar. The objective of the 3F program was to create a sustainable and fair value chain for feacal sludge management in the city of Fianarantsoa. Improving access to public toilet was one of the objective of the project. Along with that, we set up a system to monitor and supervise the sanitary blocks, this is described in this report.
Solar irrigation market analysis in Ethiopia
This study report discusses the findings of a market assessment on solar irrigation for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. The research focuses on the private smallholder irrigation segment (< 5ha) in the national regional states of Amhara, Oromia, SNNP and Tigray. The study shows that the solar irrigation market in Ethiopia is underdeveloped due to limited supply, demand and supportive initiatives. To increase farmers’ demand it is necessary that suppliers start offering integrated solutions including solar pumps, suitable application systems, local services, information and accessible finance. A broad alliance of government institutions and donors is needed to smoothen the supply hurdles, which could lead to increased competition, reduced prices and better services. Specific low-risk finance instruments need to be developed in order to stimulate the solar irrigation market.
Intermediate-depth solar pumping irrigation solutions for smallholders in the Niayes region, Senegal
In 2019, we tested in Senegal several solutions for pumping between 7 and 20 meter depth for smallholder irrigation. We conducted a technical and economical analysis of the different solutions tested. Results presented in this report include the outcome of the tests conducted in the lab, and in the field, on different submersible pumps from Asian brands, and comparison between different types of application systems. Recommendations for scale up of the solutions in West Africa are available at the end of the documents.
Results REGIS-ER Burkina Faso & Niger (2017-2019)
For REGIS-ER project funded by USAID, Practica and CSF have developed and introduced solar pumps for irrigation to the market in Burkina Faso and Niger. The CSF was trained in the manufacture and installation of the pumps, and 62 pumps were installed in the fields of small producers in order to test, evaluate and improve the technologies.
This infographic presents the results of a survey administered to 69 pump users. The results show that the use of small solar pumps reduces operational costs and the drudgery of irrigation compared to manual dewatering. The technologies also reduce the risk of non-repairable breakdowns and the cost of building gardens compared to conventional solar systems.
Market study solar irrigation solutions SISAM
Market study on solar irrigation solutions in the north of Benin and Togo and the south of Burkina Faso. The results highlight the need to bring irrigation technologies and services closer to the farmers in order to increase their adoption. Supply chains of irrigation technologies for smallholders can be optimised by reducing the number of intermediaries in the supply chains of irrigation technologies and by targeting distributors instead of farmers with subsidies. Farmers organisations benefit from a direct access to markets for solar irrigation technologies. They are logically positioned to become local distributors of irrigation technologies.
Annual report 2018
Our annual report for 2018 presents, per theme our activities during this year. We started digitalising tools for groundwater development. We identified and tested in Senegal solutions for farmer-led irrigation that we now aim to scale up in the coming years. In the drinking water supply theme we worked on the concept of “Modular micro-grid” systems to increase both the feasibility and the sustainability of water infrastructures. Finally, we carried several large-scale faeacal sludge management projects in African cities and started the 3F project in Fianarantsoa, which aims to setting up in 3 years a full FSM chain.
Smart Water Solutions for Enhanced Livelihoods & Profitable Agribusiness
The Smart Water for Agriculture project has contributed to the uptake of smart water solutions by 7,500 Kenyan farmers between 2016 and 2019. We played the role of technical assistants, and as part of the consortium, we contributed to 3 publications on: finances and business cases, multi-stakeholder collaboration for farmer-led irrigation development (FLID), and this paper which presents Smart Water Solutions for enhanced livelihood and profitable agribusinesses.
Taking stock of the lessons learnt during the project, this paper discusses the nexus among Smart Water Solutions (SWS), agribusiness, water productivity and livelihoods of irrigating farmers, including women and youth. It
analyses the processes used in promoting SWS, the impacts realized and the lessons learned.
Video – Training on irrigation for SWA project in Kenya 2019
In 2019, in the frame of the SWA project in Kenya, we organised a training for lead farmers on irrigation solutions. The goal was to show them the various irrigation technologies (pumps, application systems) available on the Kenyan market so that in turn they would be able to educate other farmers in their region. As participants explain in the video, the training was participative and practical. Several innovative training tools and materials, including a serious game (Mind your Head), were developed for this training in order to keep the learning process dynamic and improve the knowledge intake from participants.
Guide on solar irrigation solutions
Multiple solar irrigation solutions are available on the market. It is difficult to understand which ones are suitable for you. This guide helps you step-by-step to choose the technologies that will work well for your field. Technical, social, and economical aspects are considered.
This document was developed in 2019 for the SWA project in Kenya, and later translated to French.
Business plan for the set up of faecal sludge management services
This study is part of the 3F program. One of the expected result is the implementation and establishment of a sustainable faecal sludge emptying, treatment and recovery service covering the needs of more than 40,000 inhabitants.
From an operational point of view, this study constitutes a basis for the selection of the delegated manager of the sector, as well as the contractualization with the latter.
Training manual – Solar pumping for rural water supply
Without being exhaustive, managers will find in this manual an update on the design and sizing, operation and maintenance, analysis and financial management of drinking water supply systems equipped with solar pumping.
This document is a training manual for technical staff in the public and private sector. It is an additional educational support for a practical and professional training session.
Evaluation partnership Unicef/Practica professionalisation of manual drilling in Africa
During 5 years, we professionalised the manual drilling sector of 6 West African Countries. We built the capacity of 60 small local enterprises for manual drilling, and ensured access of 380 000 people to safe drinking water. Manual drilling is a low-cost solution to water access that can provide the same water quality standards as mechanically drilled boreholes. In areas with high feasibility, it therefore allows an improved access to the resource. Thanks to the partnership that we had with UNICEF, the companies trained are now able to provide a sustainable service to access drinking water.
Annual report 2017
Learn about our activities and financial figures for 2017 and get a preview of our ambitions for 2018. Across our four main themes (groundwater development, farmer-led irrigation, rural water supply, and faecal sludge management) we came up with new ideas of technologies that could be scaled up in the field tomorrow, such as the mini-pivot, and the modular piped system. We also worked on an innovative solar light device for refugees shelter and piloted it in Senegal. We also pursued our efforts to build the capacity of the local businesses. The example of Impact in Madagascar is described in this report.
Video – Intermediate-depth solar pumping irrigation solutions for smallholders in the Niayes region
When the water is at a limit depth for surface pumping with a motor pump (8 to 10 m) the producer must take a technological step leading to the choice of an appropriate solar pumping solution. During a production period PRACTICA piloted the feasibility of pragmatic and low-cost solar irrigation solutions for an intermediate depth of water (8 to 20 m) capable of meeting expectations and removing the constraints encountered by small producers of the Niayes area.
The full report of the project is available here in English, and here in French.
This video is available in French, with English subtitles.
Spray tube guide for use and installation
Guide for the installation and use of spray strips developed as part of the Drops4Crops project in Burkina Faso. The guide, intended for distribution in hard copy, is designed to guide local farmers and extension agents in the purchase, development and operation of this technology.
Annual report 2016
Rapport annuel de nos activités conduites en 2016. As previous years, we worked in our four themes: groundwater development, irrigation, drinking water supply and sanitation. Through the projects with our partners we continued to give people access to safe drinking water, decent sanitation services and renewable energy sources for irrigation. we support small local companies to build a viable business around these services.
Integrated Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) chains
Since 2009, Practica supports African municipalities in the design and set-up of full chain on-site sanitation services. This information sheet describes how to assess, design and set up of faecal sludge management chains in towns and cities
in developing countries.