Muthi Nhlema

Muthi is changing the governance of groundwater and shifting the way it is understood and managed to ensure sustainable water supply, especially to rural communities.

Muthi through his organization BASEflow, has played a pivotal role in monitoring and safeguarding groundwater use through ground and surface water monitoring, comprehensive data collection and reporting, and the use of cutting-edge technologies, to track groundwater levels, quality, and usage. This data-driven approach has provided the foundation for informed decision-making and effective resource management for government and non-governmental partners, which is the first step to creating a unified sectoral approach to tackle various pressing water-related issues in Malawi.

Being the only local organization with such a niche in Malawi, he is introducing water governance innovations, best practices, and mechanisms that address the gaps within the political economy of groundwater development whilst also strengthening government capacity to reclaim their oversight powers to monitor, protect, and manage groundwater for sustainable use. In 2022, Muthi proposed, financed, and led a water sector protest calling for the establishment of a Ministry of Water with the legal mandate, regulatory powers, and oversight to act or champion reforms for the protection of Malawi’s water resources. Nine months later the ministry was formed.

He is also testing and scaling water innovations that promote new ways of conserving groundwater as well as protecting groundwater infrastructure from the negative effects of climate change. Muthi, in turn, uses this data to shift sector perspectives around the existing assumptions on the sustainability of groundwater and bring into focus the need for improved water governance to ensure sustainability. The evidence-based advocacy further encourages other water sector actors, through ongoing partnerships or lesson-sharing, to adhere to national standards or laws and adopt best practices for improved service delivery of water projects.

Groundwater serves as the primary and reliable source of potable water in rural Malawi. According to recent census data, around 62% of the country's population, approximately 11 million people, depend on handpump-equipped boreholes to access groundwater for their daily survival and livelihoods. Despite the government's claim of achieving an 89% national water coverage rate, mounting evidence indicates that about one-third of water points remain non-functional, severely restricting safe water access to just under two-thirds of the population. This situation leads to wasted investments and erodes the trust of rural communities.

The root cause of this dire situation lies in the dysfunctional state (or the political economy) of Malawi’s water sector. Rather than being a hardware problem, the issue revolves around a confluence of factors including inadequate understanding of groundwater quantity or quality, unfair drilling contracts that place all the risk and liability on drilling companies, non-compliance to national construction standards, and lack of accountability for sub-standard construction, which, all together, negatively affects groundwater sustainability. Malawi must address these longstanding challenges if the dream of a continuous and reliable supply of safe water for its citizens is to be realized. The consequences of not addressing these complex challenges are far-reaching, starting with handpump-equipped boreholes that fail within months of construction, followed by the proliferation of water-borne diseases, losses in productivity, and squandering of water supply investments. The estimated losses for failed handpumps alone amount to US$ 54 million.

Underpinning this problem is the lack of updated data on groundwater use and management to inform investment planning, decision-making, and early warning systems. While a comprehensive borehole database (which Muthi helped create) does exist, it is not regularly updated due to a lack of coordination and data-sharing between stakeholders, especially non-profits and faith-based organizations, who often construct new water points without informing the local government. As a result, the government cannot plan appropriately and mitigate against problems if the latest water point information is scarcely available or accessible. With regards to water table data, Malawi has a network of 100 monitoring wells which are designed to track water table trends over time. However, only a handful are working and are not using the latest technology to facilitate real-time monitoring for timely decision-making.

BASEflow is re-imagining the understanding of groundwater sources to leverage it sustainably and meet the growing demands of rural populations through a three-pronged approach to addressing gaps in the political economy.

The first prong addresses the need to strengthen data governance among stakeholders for improved monitoring and management of groundwater sources and infrastructure. In 2017, Muthi and his team at BASEflow hit the ground running in a collaborative initiative that aimed to conduct a census mapping of all rural-based water supply assets using the mobile phone app called, mWater. As part of this national initiative, BASEflow trained 354 government extension officers, including health surveillance assistants, in how to use the app to collect data on the type, location, and condition of water and sanitation infrastructure in the country. Through Muthi’s leadership, BASEflow managed to facilitate the creation of a database of 120,000 water points, received a high satisfaction rating of 86% from the government enumerators, and was recognized in the Water and Environmental Sanitation Network’s 2018 CSO Performance Report as an innovative example of transparency and accountability. Building on this solid foundation, Muthi would like to support the government in institutionalizing the water point database as the primary sector database for performance tracking, promoting an open data culture between government and non-state actors, and further exploring new collaborative ways of sustainably keeping the database updated.

Aligned with data governance, BASEflow is revitalizing the network of groundwater monitoring wells through the re-construction of existing monitoring wells and the introduction of telemetry-enabled technology which can enable real-time monitoring of the water table. As part of this work, BASEflow will work to strengthen the communication channels between the government at all levels and community-based gauge readers to foster improved stewardship of the groundwater monitoring assets. BASEflow has already fundraised for 20 monitoring wells rehabilitations and 3 telemetry-enabled monitoring wells which will be some of the first of its kind to be installed in Malawi.

The second prong in BASEflow’s approach is addressing institutional gaps within the political economy of groundwater development. Following a National Policy Dialogue on Groundwater Development and Management facilitated by BASEflow in 2021, it was evident that sub-standard borehole constructions, and the lack of accountability for their failure, were due to (i) Unfair drilling contracts which disproportionately put the risk on drilling company, forcing them to ‘cut corners’; and (ii) Lack of an explicit regulatory framework for holding water sector actors accountable for failed water investments. To address the first challenge and learning from countries such as Nigeria and Uganda, BASEflow intends to facilitate the establishment of the first driller’s association which will, among other things, consolidate their power and broker for better terms and conditions of service in drilling contracts and be incentivised to self-regulate against ‘briefcase’ drillers. To address the second political economy challenge, BASEflow will work with the Water Resources Regulator to support the establishment of a water tribunal to deal with cases where service providers have not complied with the national standards when constructing handpump-equipped boreholes for public use.

The third prong of BASEflow’s strategy is to address existing challenges to conserving, protecting, and managing groundwater by testing technical innovations in the field to inform evidence-based advocacy for policy reform or best practice adoption. Among the innovations that BASEflow is actively promoting is borehole forensics, a comprehensive technical investigation that aims to assess both surface and subsurface conditions of a borehole or handpump infrastructure to identify the primary causes of failure. This method employs a systematic approach to data collection and analysis, utilizing the mWater platform to enhance efficiency. This process includes various tests such as water quality tests, pumping tests, borehole camera surveys, civil works, and pump parts assessments. BASEflow takes pride in being the only organization offering this service in Malawi. In addition to generating data for holding service providers accountable for poorly constructed boreholes, the value of borehole forensics also lies in its ability to determine whether a handpump-equipped borehole can be rehabilitated or not, thus saving money that would have been wasted on a borehole that was built to fail. International organizations, such as Design Outreach, Self Help Africa, Habitat for Humanity Malawi, and WaterAid, have adopted Borehole Forensics as an institutional approach to water point rehabilitation.

A few other innovations include (i) Mapping and remediation of Malawi’s artesian wells: artesian wells refer to groundwater that is under pressure when tapped by a well and can rise above the level at which it is first encountered, often above ground (like a spring). There are significant problems associated with allowing artesian boreholes to flow uncontrolled including significant depletion of groundwater resources causing neighbouring boreholes to dry up and huge volumes of water to be wasted. BASEflow piloted an exemplar site in Southern Malawi where an artesian well was successfully capped, controlled, and extended to multiple uses, in addition to drinking water, by the surrounding community. BASEflow hopes to scale this to other areas, and (ii) Flood-proofing handpump-equipped boreholes: This involves building climate-resilient infrastructure by raising the concrete platform above the floodline to protect the handpump infrastructure against damage and risk of contamination due to cyclone-induced flooding. Two test sites were established in Southern Malawi in advance of Cyclone Freddy and have proven to be a cost-effective strategy for ensuring uninterrupted access to clean water during natural disasters.

Muthi embodies an unwavering commitment to justice that has defined his very essence since childhood. From the early days of his youth, he exhibited a profound curiosity about social issues and inequality, constantly pondering the question of how impoverished communities could unite and share resources. This innate sense of empathy, coupled with his keen entrepreneurial spirit, has driven his remarkable journey as a changemaker.

His journey began in the heart of the slums, where Muthi found himself following his father’s sudden political imprisonment. He leveraged his privileged background to impart knowledge and help the children in this new neighbourhood learn English, bridging the gap between worlds. At a mere 11 years old, he exhibited extraordinary leadership, coming from a religious background, he was able to gather kids in his neighbourhood and talk to them about “ways to be and do good” and the local kids would follow him everywhere in the slums a testament to his innate ability to inspire.

During his school years, Muthi’s passion found expression through theatre. He competed in school plays that delved into pressing social issues, earning acclaim and accolades. His talent and dedication shone brightly, winning him the Best Character award three times in national festivals. This early recognition fuelled his determination to use the stage as a platform for change. In university, Muthi’s activism took center stage. He fearlessly led the drama club of a local church, fearlessly addressing critical civic topics and human rights issues. His productions confronted subjects ranging from LGBTQ rights to girls’ empowerment and income inequality. In an environment where dissent was often stifled, Muthi stood up against Church Leadership and University Administration, advocating for justice with unwavering resolve. These performances were not just artistic expressions; they were powerful narratives that spoke truth to power. The impact was profound, earning him a prestigious Human Rights award and cementing his status as a formidable force for change.

A pivotal moment in his journey came with the formation of the Water Development group while he studied engineering at the University. Muthi mobilized his university colleagues, drafting a constitution and embarking on a mission to resolve water-related challenges in their community. This initiative not only highlighted his organizational acumen but also highlighted his ability to rally a team toward a shared vision.

Muthi’s journey also revealed his intrapreneurial spirit. Within organizations, he meticulously collected and analysed data, presenting innovative solutions to drive meaningful change. However, it was a critical juncture—the pressing issue of the water table—that became the catalyst for his departure from the confines of established structures. Fuelled by the desire for a systemic solution, he made the courageous decision to resign and chart his own path. Muthi's story is one of resilience, empathy, and unyielding determination. He has not just questioned the status quo; he has challenged it, dismantling barriers, and empowering communities.