Petrus Tuhafeni Paulus
|
Name |
Petrus Tuhafeni Paulus |
|
Country |
Namibia |
|
Programme of Study |
PhD in Natural Resources Science |
- You were chosen as a beneficiary of this scholarship, out of several applicants across the SADC region. How does this make you feel?
- I am overwhelmed and excited to have been granted this unprecedented privilege to undertake my PhD under the SASSCAL Graduate Studies Programme in Integrated Water Resources Management. It is a great life-changing opportunity that I will treasure for life. The award came to me by surprise as the competition for scholarships was enormous.
- What motivated you to take up studies in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)?
- Namibia is an arid country, and water is a scarce resource. Despite, the efforts being done by the government and supportive non-governmental organizations, the problems associated with water remain mountainous because the management of water resources requires an integrated approach. I would like to broaden my research skills and application of the principles of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) to make a meaningful contribution on the holistic management water resources in Namibia, the SADC region and world at the large. My focus and area of interest in the use of water in agriculture in the tandem with the expectations of the Water, Energy and Food (WEF) Nexus.
- What do you see as some of the greatest challenges being experienced in the IWRM sector, particularly in your home country?
- Well, IWRM is anchored on the principle of social equity, economic efficiency and environmental sustainability. Besides, there is key understanding that water is a social good. In our country, a good number of the socio-economic are related to both safe and adequate water supply. This in-turn escalates to the problems of food and human health security. There is a need for a systematic and continuous monitoring and management of the limited water resources in terms of quantity and quality. When the quality of the water sources is not known, it puts the consumers and users at risks. Issues there of water quality deterioration needs collective attention from all the stakeholders of concern, including academia in terms of research.
- When it is all done and dusted, what would you like the impact of your research project to be?
- I would like the findings of my research to promote safe agricultural practices, and effective management of water resources for suitable use in agriculture. This will ensure that the fresh produce in Namibia are safe for all consumers. The fear that people have regarding water-borne pathogens that cause disease outbreaks associated with fresh produce should be decreased. Furthermore, the findings of my research should influence decision and policy makers towards sustainable utilization and management of our limited water resources. This will indeed contribute the attainment of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
