Africa Sand Dam Foundation
Africa Sand Dam Foundation (ASDF) works with communities to design and build sand dams and complementary water infrastructure that harvest and store rainwater below ground — providing reliable water for people, livestock, and agriculture. This enables farmers to irrigate crops, strengthen food security, and build resilient livelihoods in the face of climate variability.
Investment Rationale
Built with community leadership and local materials, ASDF's model delivers low-cost, durable, and highly scalable climate-resilient infrastructure.
Exceptional cost-effectiveness: Sand dams are among the most efficient water-conservation investments in dryland environments, delivering long-lived returns at minimal cost.
Compounding resilience gains: The approach secures year-round water access while strengthening livelihoods, ecosystems, and climate resilience over decades.
Impact & Outcomes
ASDF equips dryland communities with the infrastructure and skills to manage climate risk, reduce disaster losses, and sustain development over the long term.
Nature-based resilience: Sand dams retain water in soils, regenerate vegetation, and significantly reduce erosion and land degradation.
Multi-sector benefits: Reliable water access enables food production, restores biodiversity, and strengthens household incomes — delivering durable resilience benefits well beyond WASH.