Enhancing Education and Climate Resilience in Rural Nigeria: The Role of Solar Boreholes

The project aims to conduct an exploratory study on solar-powered borehole technology, a community-based intervention designed as a sustainable solution for climate adaptation and educational improvement in rural part of Nigeria. Implemented by our partner organisation, Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNBRDA). LNBRDA solar- powered borehole technology mitigates the issue of water scarcity by providing access to clean water, all year-round to communities affected by climate-induced water scarcity. This innovation is designed to reduce the time school-aged children in households spend searching for water for domestic use during dry seasons in rural Nigeria, which in turn impacts their school attendance and performance. With the support of this grant, we will investigate the functionality of solar-powered boreholes, assess their preliminary impacts on children's school attendance rate and performance, and identify constraints faced by households in utilizing it. The project will also facilitate partnerships with local implementing organizations by gathering community feedback on the intervention, school attendance, and time saved on water collection. Through surveys and interviews with 180 household heads in the intervention communities. These interviews will provide critical feedback on the intervention's effectiveness and areas for improvement. The study will validate the intervention, perform exploratory data analysis, and develop appropriate study designs. Beyond generating valuable insights, the project's main goal is to strengthen partnerships with implementing organizations, paving the way for future randomized control trial (RCT) studies. Ultimately, this effort is expected to promote evidence-based policies aimed at improving school attendance rates and performance in rural Africa.