Creating sustainable capacity for river science in the Congo basin through the CRuHM project

Abstract

In this article, we examine the scientific and sustainable research capacity outcomes of the ‘Congo River: user Hydraulics and Morphology’ or CRuHM project, a six-year effort supported by the Royal Society’s Africa Capacity Building Initiative. This project brought together a consortium of African and UK universities to undertake the first large-scale scientific expeditions to the Congo basin of the modern era in order to better understand the hydraulics and geomorphology of this understudied but globally important river. The river is essential for navigation, irrigation, drinking water and hydroelectric power generation for the 10 basin countries and is critically important for biodiversity and global nutrient, carbon and climatological cycles. This article summarizes the new scientific understanding contributed by the project and the steps taken to ensure a meaningful legacy that would continue long beyond the finite lifetime of available funding. Actions taken to achieve this include establishing a new hydrology research centre at the University of Kinshasa as well as steps to build a wider international community of Congo basin researchers. In this way, we hope to build momentum for future funding initiatives and collaboration.