Acacia Institute

The Acacia Institute “for solutions in groundwater” is a self-supporting not-for-profit foundation established at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences). Acacia Institute is an independent, demand-oriented organization with an international scope. Its goal is to highlight the important role of groundwater in hydrological processes, as well as groundwater’s importance and opportunities to society. Acacia also wants to accommodate the need for groundwater knowledge and to offer recommendations in those areas where the awareness of the importance of groundwater is emerging:

• lobbying in order to strengthen the position of groundwater on the political agenda, and
• providing innovative solutions for groundwater development, management, protection and use, and
• promoting knowledge exchange and communication among all the stakeholders in groundwater related issues and
• supporting governments, industries, and donor agencies in formulating policy and in managing programs.

The Institute has extensive experience in groundwater research and consultancy in the Netherlands as well as in developing countries. The Institute is member of the Groundwater Management Advisory Team (GW-MATE) established by the World bank. The GW-MATE initiative is designed to support the thrust from 'vision to action' on integrated water resources management of the World Water Forum in March 2000.

One of Acacia’s main activities is the promotion of groundwater recharge and water conservation. Together with the Sasol foundation (Kitui, Kenya) Acacia has initiated a program known as “Recharge Techniques and Water Conservation in East Africa; Up-scaling and Dissemination of the good practices of the Kitui sand dams”. The program is aimed to promote the successful up scaling of community based sand dams (and related water conservation techniques). Up scaling of sand dam construction can significant contribute to provide water to rural communities in arid and semi arid region, provided that the dams are properly sited, its construction is appropriate to the local conditions and whether the communities are effectively involved in construction and management of the dams. The challenge is to incorporate these requirements in an up scaling process that facilitates the construction of dams in large numbers.

For further information see the profile below or visit www.acaciainstitute.nl

Contact person:
Arjen de Vries (a.devries@acaciainstitute.nl)
De Boelelaan 1085
1081 HV Amsterdam
The Netherlands
T: +31 (0) 20-5987330 / +31(0) 610917175