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Bridging Science and Community: Interview with AFR’EAU
June 10, 2026, 9:37 a.m.
As part of the Citizens4Water initiative, we spoke with Hadi Toure Guindo, President and co-founder of AFR’EAU, about their work combining citizen science with community knowledge across Mali and Niger. From documentaries and art to innovative water treatment research, AFR’EAU is exploring new ways to connect science, local realities, and global networks.
Can you introduce AFR’EAU and the work you are doing?
AFR’EAU is a women-led organisation founded in 2022, with a strong focus on citizen science. Before starting the organisation, I worked in the water utility sector as an environmental engineer. With AFR’EAU, we wanted to center our work on community-driven approaches to water. One of our key initiatives is the Dji Mansa ("Water masters") project, supported by the Water Development Partnership Programme at IHE Delft. The project has been implemented in Mali and extended to Niger, with the goal of piloting a citizen science approach to water monitoring and knowledge sharing.
A central aspect of the project is highlighting the knowledge of these "water masters". These are communities living along riverbanks who have deep, generational knowledge of water systems. We wanted to combine this traditional knowledge with scientific data and show that the two can coexist and complement each other.
Why did you choose storytelling and documentary as part of your approach?
We chose to produce a documentary because we wanted to capture more than just scientific results. We wanted to show the cultural, social, and even spiritual dimensions of water knowledge, these are things that are not always easy to explain through data alone. The documentary has been screened with partners such as IHE Delft, and also through collaborations like the World Water Film Festival. It continues to be an important tool for sharing our work and reaching new audiences.
Can you tell us about your research into nature-based water solutions?
Some of our ideas emerge directly from community discussions. For example, communities mentioned using plants for water purification, which led us to explore solutions like moringa.
Initial tests showed some improvement in water quality, but also challenges, such as increased turbidity. We are continuing to refine these methods and explore alternatives.
How do you combine art and science in your work?
We experimented with art during a project workshop by collaborating with a local artist. The artist listened to discussions and created a painting representing the project’s themes.
The idea was to capture a shared vision: a future where children can safely interact with rivers without health risks. Art can be abstract and not always immediately understood, but we have found it to be a powerful way to communicate complex ideas.
What challenges have you experienced in your work?
There are several challenges. Funding is one, we rely entirely on grants, which makes continuity difficult.
Another major challenge is publishing citizen science results. As an association, it is difficult to access peer-reviewed scientific journals without formal university affiliations. Despite this, we have managed to submit a manuscript and contribute to international reports.
Translating scientific knowledge into accessible formats for communities is also challenging. Many communities we work with have limited formal education, so we rely heavily on visuals and simplified communication.
What is the value of being part of a global network like Citizens4Water?
Being part of a global network allows us to amplify local voices. Citizen science has existed in many forms in our region, but platforms like Citizens4Water help us communicate those efforts more widely and share lessons across projects.
It also helps ensure that knowledge flows both ways: back to the communities and outward to global audiences. One key lesson we learned is the importance of returning results to communities, as many people are used to projects that collect data and then disappear.
Your organisation is women-led. How does gender shape your work?
In our fieldwork, communities themselves often identify water as primarily a women’s issue. Women are usually the most knowledgeable about water use and management in daily life.
Because of this, we organised women-only focus groups to ensure that women could speak freely.
At the same time, water governance remains largely male-dominated. Our approach is to create spaces where women can contribute to data collection and discussions, helping to bring their voices into decision-making processes.
What are the next steps for AFR’EAU?
We are working towards pilot projects with national authorities, which could help institutionalise citizen science approaches. We are also organising a symposium to bring together communities and policymakers, creating a space for dialogue and advocacy. In the longer term, we hope to expand partnerships and scale our work.
What message would you like to share with the Citizens4Water network?
We are actively looking for partnerships and opportunities to collaborate. Sharing knowledge, tools, and experiences is essential for strengthening citizen science. We strongly believe that if citizen science is properly supported, including fair recognition of participants, it can create meaningful and lasting change.
Watch the trailer of the documentary of Dji Mansa:
This interview has been conducted by students of the Science Communication course at the University of Leuven: Lily O'Shea, Hajar Yammi, Annie Schulz, Pieter Houben.
