Dji Mansa, "Water Masters in Bambara"

The overall objective of Dji Mansa is to strengthen inclusive and evidence-based water governance through citizen science approaches that integrate local and scientific knowledge systems.

The project pursues the following specific objectives:

1. Generate contextualized water quality data
To produce reliable and locally grounded data on water quality in riverine communities by combining scientific measurements with community-based environmental observations.

2. Empower communities as active contributors to water monitoring
To build the capacities of local populations (particularly youth and marginalized groups) to participate in data collection, and interpretation.

3. Bridge knowledge systems
To create synergies between traditional/local knowledge and scientific methodologies, ensuring that environmental monitoring reflects both lived experiences and technical evidence.

4. Strengthen dialogue between communities and institutions
To facilitate structured exchanges between citizen scientists, researchers, and public authorities, enabling mutual understanding and more responsive governance mechanisms.

5. Increase institutional recognition of citizen science
To demonstrate the value of citizen-generated data in informing policies and practices, and to support its gradual integration into formal water management frameworks.

6. Support advocacy and awareness on water quality issues
To use project findings to raise awareness on pollution, ecosystem degradation, and public health risks, while encouraging concrete actions from stakeholders.

7. Build local and regional capacity for participatory monitoring
To develop skills among students, young professionals, and institutions in citizen science methodologies, contributing to long-term sustainability and scalability.

Through these objectives, Dji Mansa contributes to advancing inclusive governance, environmental justice, and community resilience, while positioning citizen science as a credible and complementary approach to conventional water monitoring systems.

People can get involved in Dji Mansa through multiple entry points, depending on their background, interest, and level of engagement.

At the community level, local residents (particularly youth, women, and river-dependent groups) can participate as citizen scientists. They are engaged through awareness sessions and trained to carry out water quality observations and measurements, as well as to share their knowledge and perceptions of environmental changes. Participation is designed to be inclusive and accessible, including for non-literate participants through adapted facilitation methods.

Students and early-career professionals can get involved through research placements, internships, and field activities, contributing to data collection, analysis, and the development of locally relevant solutions. The project collaborates closely with academic institutions to support applied research and capacity building.

Institutions, including public authorities and technical agencies, can engage by collaborating on monitoring activities, providing technical expertise, and participating in dialogue platforms that connect communities with decision-makers. This helps ensure that citizen-generated insights are aligned with and contribute to existing governance frameworks.

Civil society organizations and youth networks can join as implementation or outreach partners, supporting community mobilization, awareness raising, and scaling of the approach in new locations.

More broadly, stakeholders can engage with Dji Mansa through knowledge-sharing events, workshops, and dissemination activities, where findings are presented and discussed to inform action and policy.