About this project
The G-Water Resilience Project: Ratsat Community is a youth-led clean water restoration and climate resilience initiative aimed at tackling the urgent water scarcity problem in Ratsat, a rural community in Plateau State, Nigeria, with a population of over 1,500 people. Ratsat has faced multiple layers of vulnerability including the impacts of past insecurity and climate-induced water stress that have left its residents with limited access to safe drinking water.
The community’s primary water source, a solar-powered motorized borehole, was vandalized, resulting in the theft and destruction of key components such as the submersible pump, solar panels, and elevated storage tanks. This rendered the system entirely non-functional. The result is a daily struggle for women, children, and other vulnerable groups who must travel long distances to fetch water, often from unsafe sources, increasing health and safety risks.
Our project’s goal is to restore clean water access, reduce the physical and time burdens on residents, and build local capacity for sustainable water resource management. Following a hydro-technical site assessment, the intervention will involve:
1. Rehabilitation of the solar-powered borehole – replacing the submersible pump, solar panels, and damaged storage tanks.
2. Security enhancement – installing anti-theft fencing and locks to prevent future vandalism.
3. WASH-focused community education – organizing training sessions on hygiene, water conservation, and community-led maintenance, targeting women, youth, and school-aged children.
By integrating technical restoration with community-led behavior change, this initiative will not only provide immediate relief but also strengthen local resilience to climate-related water stress. Using renewable solar technology minimizes carbon footprint while ensuring cost-effective and sustainable water pumping. Involving trained community health volunteers ensures that WASH education is tailored to local needs and culturally appropriate, promoting long-term adoption.
The project will be implemented in collaboration with local leaders, youth volunteers, WASH units, and security stakeholders. It will directly benefit over 1,500 residents by providing reliable access to safe water and indirectly benefit neighboring settlements through reduced pressure on shared resources. Impact will be monitored through indicators such as liters of safe water provided daily, reduction in waterborne diseases, number of trained residents, and functional status of the rehabilitated facility after implementation.
Goals and Objectives
Goals and Objectives
The G-Water Resilience Project: Ratsat Community aims to restore access to safe, reliable, and sustainable water in a rural community facing severe water scarcity due to vandalized infrastructure. Specific objectives are to:
· Rehabilitate the vandalized solar-powered motorized borehole by replacing the submersible pump, solar panels, damaged storage tanks and build water collection points with pipings.
· Install security features, including anti-theft fencing and locks, to safeguard the facility.
· Deliver targeted WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) training to promote hygiene, water conservation, and community-led maintenance.
Intended Beneficiaries
The direct beneficiaries are the 1,500 residents of Ratsat, Plateau State, Nigeria a community previously affected by insecurity and now struggling with limited access to safe drinking water. This community was selected because their only functional water source was destroyed, leaving them dependent on distant and unsafe alternatives. Women, children, and youth bear the greatest burden of water collection, often walking long distances and risking exposure to waterborne diseases. By restoring local access to clean water, the project will reduce travel time, improve health outcomes, and enhance safety for these vulnerable groups.
Sustainability and Potential for Replicability
To ensure long-term sustainability, the project will train community members particularly youth in borehole operation, routine maintenance, and fostering local ownership and accountability. Water health and Sanitation (WASH) education will encourage behavioral change, reduce contamination risks and promote water conservation. The installation of security measures will prevent future vandalism, while the use of solar energy reduces operational costs and carbon footprint.
Expected result
Expected Results and Monitoring Plan
· Restoration of Water Access – Fully rehabilitate the vandalized solar-powered borehole in Ratsat community, including replacement of submersible pump, solar panels, storage tank, and reconstruction of water collection point, within 4 months, restoring access to clean water for 1,500 residents.
· Improved Hygiene Practices – Conduct 1 WASH training sessions (targeting at least 300 community members, 60% women and youth) within 2 months post-installation, leading to a 40% improvement in reported safe water handling and hygiene practices by year-end.
· Reduction in Waterborne Diseases – Achieve at least a 30% decrease in reported cases of diarrheal and other waterborne diseases in the community within 6 months of project completion, measured via health post records and household surveys.
· Enhanced Security of Water Infrastructure – Install anti-theft fencing and gate around the borehole and storage tank, with zero incidents of vandalism recorded during the first 12 months post-installation.
· Local Capacity Building – Train at least 10 local youth volunteers on borehole maintenance, solar system care, and basic repairs within 2 months, ensuring community-led upkeep beyond project lifespan.
· Carbon Footprint Reduction – Using solar-powered water access, to avoid approximately 2.5 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually (calculated from reduced fuel usage and water transport).
Sustainability and Replicability – Develop and hand over a community-led maintenance plan within the project period.
About me / organisation
Grace Chuwang Pam
The project is led by Grace Chuwang Pam, a 29-year-old Nigerian geoscientist with a degree in Geology and a professional expertise in hydrogeology, geophysics, and environmental development. She is passionate about community development, climate action, and advancing SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) in underserved and climate-vulnerable areas.
Grace brings extensive field and project management experience. She has conducted over 300 groundwater site assessments across Plateau, using geophysical survey methods to determine optimal drilling points. She has supported borehole rehabilitation projects in rural communities in Plateau state, integrating renewable energy solutions for sustainable water supply. She also worked on a world bank Micro Watershed development Projects in 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs) within Taraba, Adamawa and Kogi State of Nigeria, contributing to environmental restoration and water resource management.
Her digital advocacy work includes creating impactful storytelling content that has attracted international attention. One of her LinkedIn posts, highlighting unsafe water sources in Taraba State, led to collaboration with a Malaysian NGO (Terra Blue) and the launch of a fundraising campaign on thewaterproject.org for the affected community.
Grace leads a youth volunteer team trained in community mobilization, basic technical maintenance, and data collection. Her approach ensures that projects are locally driven, technically sound, and sustainable. With her blend of geoscience expertise, grassroots organizing skills, and proven ability to secure partnerships, Grace is well positioned to deliver the G-Water Resilience Project in Ratsat with measurable, lasting impact and the potential for replication in similar communities