Who is BASEflow?

We build rural groundwater-dependent infrastructure to ensure communities can reliably access and sustainably manage their water supply. This includes rehabilitating and flood-proofing handpump-fitted boreholes, remediating free-flowing artesian wells to reduce wastage and promote multiple uses, and installing recharge systems that capture rainwater to conserve and replenish groundwater.

We strengthen government systems to ensure that reliable water data is available for informed decision-making at both national and district levels. This includes supporting the sector-wide adoption and updating of the Malawi Water Asset Management Information System (MWAMIS), revitalizing the national groundwater monitoring network, and facilitating seamless data flows and information sharing between national and local authorities.

We promote active citizen participation by creating the right incentives to protect and manage groundwater resources. This includes training community members as citizen scientists to monitor groundwater, promoting agricultural practices that boost both livelihoods and groundwater recharge, and encouraging multiple uses of groundwater systems, such as artesian wells and aquifer recharge structures.

We build the capacity of government and private sector actors to effectively enforce and adhere to groundwater standards. This includes training frontline staff and drillers on proper drilling practices, supporting the formation and strengthening of a drillers’ association to advocate for fair contracts, and promoting accountability by working with the National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) to establish a Water Tribunal.

We work to raise awareness about groundwater science, knowledge, and practice across the water sector and beyond. This includes maintaining a dedicated groundwater knowledge hub, sharing accessible and engaging content on social media, and advancing research and knowledge exchange to bridge the gap between science and practice.