Water & Environment Management

Without judicious management of water, economic growth and opportunities for poverty reduction are stifled. Similarly, development that brings negative impacts for the environment can never deliver the advances in human wellbeing that we all seek. Development, which is equitable and lasting, can only be based on approaches that successfully manage the risks to land, air and water.

Based on a long and successful track record in supporting sustainable natural resource management, LTS is expanding its portfolio to target water and the 'brown' environment - waste and pollution. Recognising improved water and environment management as key to the delivery of sustainable development and the MDG's, we have recruited the experience we need to make a positive impact in these areas. Complementary links with our existing work streams on for example biodiversity conservation, climate change, and our cross-cutting expertise means we can provide a holistic, interdisciplinary service to our customers. Our approach is based on an applied understanding of the tools, techniques and approaches available to support sustainability from policy to practice, at a cost that society can afford.

........we provide a comprehensive range of high-quality services to support sustainable water and environment management, helping partners move from contextually appropriate policy formulation to operational implementation in order to deliver positive and pro-poor environmental outcomes........

Our specialist team can:

  • Plan, deliver, monitor and evaluate initiatives to improve access to water and sanitation; protection of water quality and sustenance of quantity; or to protect other environmental assets.
  • Support economic savings and environmental efficiencies in the private sector and support the design and implementation of triple bottom line accounting and CSR programmes.
  • Design, manage and audit safeguard mechanisms such as EIA's; SEA's; integrated appraisal; regulatory systems and compliance.
  • Guide organisations in developing capacity through situated needs analysis, organisational development and capacity mobilisation processes.
  • Conduct research and provide practical advice on technical, political or socio-economic aspects of environment and water management and the multi-faceted links with poverty, health, biodiversity, agriculture, forestry, economic growth and climate change.

Our Water and Environment Management Specialist is Nick Hepworth, please contact him at Nick-Hepworth@ltsi.co.uk

Relevant recent work...

Implementing a Risk-based Approach Towards Environmental Management (REMAK), Kenya

From July 2005 to July 2007, the Environment Agency of England and Wales, with support from DFID's Pathways to Environmental Action in Kenya (PEAK) Programme provided technical support to the Kenyan National Environment Management Authority. The mandate of this £300 K project, (REMAK) was to support NEMA to develop a risk based environmental policy and regulatory framework for delivering the new Environment Management Coordination Act; to engage partners in government,industry and civil society in delivering environmental improvements; to develop environmental planning and influencing tools; to enhance regulatory capacity through the adoption of a risk based approach to permitting and a business planning model to resource this; and to develop NEMA national incident management capacity. LTS was invited to conduct an independent review of the programme to evaluate its impacts and sustainability. Our staff conducted a stakeholder analysis based on detailed personal testimonies of programme and NEMA staff, participant observation, field visits and questionnaire surveys. The review reveals the factors that contributed to the significant achievements of the programme in terms of new operational policies, processes and staff capabilities and confidence to implement them. Key learning points around the delivery of effective technical
assistance were revealed and the analysis and its recommendations support the more systematic design of capacity building programmes to harness and support workplace motivation. The work supports best practice within the Environment Agency, its international partners and others engaged or interested in technical assistance and capacity mobilisation

The 'WATERMARK' - Developing Accredited Standards for Sustainable Water use, East Africa

LTS, working with NGO's and partners in the private sector is leading the design and development of an international standard for sustainable water resource use. This product-based accreditation scheme aims to harness the growing power of ethical consumerism and Corporate Social Responsibility to drive sustainable water resource use. LTS involvement includes research and development, networking and assembling project partners and in the future the piloting of the scheme in East Africa. As part of this process, LTS is providing strategic support and guidance in the launch of Water Witness International, a new international NGO dedicated to improved performance and accountability in water resource management.

Regional Climate Change Adaptation Programme, Southern Africa

The effect of climate change on natural resources and poor communities that depend on them is already evident. The Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting adaptation efforts in the Southern African region focusing on the achievement and sustainability of three of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) food security, water and health. Together with our regional partner OneWorld, LTS have been appointed by DFID to conduct a 5-country feasibility study to clarify the role it should play to help southern Africa respond to the challenge of climate change. LTS staff are involved in identifying key risks and vulnerabilities in the region during October 2007.