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From climate change to poverty to women's marginalization, humanitarian problems in rural Berber communities on the edge of the Sahara Desert in southwest Morocco - as in much of the developing world - are part of an inter-related web of social and natural systems. The semi-arid southern region of Ait Baamrane is one of the poorest in Morocco and has multiple health, education and sustainable development needs. Despite the human and ecological challenges that afflict those communities, fog remains a constant. Dar Si Hmad for Development, Education and Culture, a local Moroccan NGO, along with an international consortium of engineers and researchers has designed and installed a fogwater harvesting project that provides a holistic approach to addressing complex development challenges. The fog-collection system delivers potable water to hundreds of rural residents who have never had running water. This humanitarian technology project is based on deep local engagement and a shared commitment to education and environmental stewardship, which is reflected in training local community members, particularly women, to operate and manage the new fog-water catchment system. Furthermore, research and the advancement of scientific knowledge are core components of the initiative, and Dar Si Hmad works closely with engineers and social scientists who are committed to sharing useful science and technology with developing communities.

This humanitarian technology initiative seeks to:

promote fog as a viable source of potable water

provide clean water to landlocked, rural communities in southwest Morocco

free women and children from the time-consuming chore of collecting water

contribute to stabilizing communities through sustainable development

integrate emerging technologies to enhance water security

combine community participation and engineering innovation with research in a comprehensive project that serves local needs and advances scholarship

provide a case study for collaborative partnerships in rural North Africa and other semi-arid regions. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.