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Policy Brief: Securing the invisible resource: Leveraging machine learning to address groundwater depletion in the upper Zambezi River Basin

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Title
Title Policy Brief: Securing the invisible resource: Leveraging machine learning to address groundwater depletion in the upper Zambezi River Basin ?
Author Christopher Shilengwe, Chisha Chongo Mzyece, Chomba I. Chomba, Morris k. Manyika & Kawawa E. Banda ?
Abstract Groundwater is the hidden foundation of the Upper Zambezi River Basin’s economy, supporting hydropower stability, large-scale agriculture, and rural water security. However, data reveals a systemic decline in storage, with "hotspots" of depletion emerging in Western Zambia. Current ground-based monitoring is insucient to manage this risk. By integrating machine learning with satellite data, we can now monitor groundwater at a 5km local scale. This brief calls for the immediate institutionalization of these tools to prevent a "blind" water crisis and to secure the region’s climate-resilient future. ?
Dataset
Document Reference Date Type publication ?
Date 2026-05-01 ?
Language English ?
Online Linkage https://sasscal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Policy-Brief_SASSCAL-Issue-12.pdf ?
Associated project SASSCAL 2.0 ?
Dataset Classification
Type PDF ?
Category other ?
Geographic Location
Geographic Description Zambia ?
Metadata
Metadata Contact Person Thompson, Sylvia ?
Metadata Date Stamp 2026-07-02 ?
Identifier
Internal identifier sdp_doc_documents_7559 (Link)