In a significant milestone for the SPRINGS project, consortium members from 14 partner organisations from ten countries met in Naples, Italy, from April 16-18.
Hosted by University of Naples Federico II, the meeting facilitated face-to-face interactions among the 35 participants, marking the first physical meeting since the project started in January.
This meeting was key to clarifying roles, responsibilities, and workflows for the successful implementation of the five-year project and offered an opportunity to highlight ongoing research and collaborative efforts aimed at facilitating data and knowledge exchange within the SPRINGS project.
Vanessa Harris, an Infectious Diseases Specialist from the Department of Global Health at Amsterdam University Medical Center, and the project coordinator, kicked off the event. Her opening remarks emphasised the importance of collaboration, planning, and scientific goal setting, setting the tone for the ensuing sessions.
Next, partners from diverse fields including climate science, hydrology, social sciences, and health, discussed how their expertise aligns with the scientific goals of the SPRINGS project. Presentations centered on methodologies such as climate data modeling and downscaling, essential for comprehending local climate patterns and the influence of climate change on waterborne diarrheal diseases.
Experts presented the four case studies of the project, conducted at sites in Romania, Ghana, Italy, and Tanzania. The collected data at these 4 sites will also contribute to understanding the implications of climate change on waterborne diarrheal diseases. Experts also emphasised the importance of using approaches such as WHO's Water Safety Planning and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to translate evidence into policy.
Moreover, the meeting provided a platform for the teams to build collaborative strategies and outline work methodologies, ensuring alignment with project objectives. Through group work sessions, participants identified next steps, areas of mutual interest and potential challenges, fostering a proactive approach to addressing the project’s complexities.
Finally and in a strategic move, the consortium started mapping relevant stakeholders at the EU, international, and local levels, laying the groundwork for stakeholder engagement strategies and seamless integration of project outcomes into policy frameworks.
For more information on the progress of our project, stay tuned !
About the project:
SPRINGS is an EU-funded project focused on addressing the impact of climate change on waterborne diarrheal diseases. Diarrheal diseases are currently the third leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age globally. Compounded by global climate projections indicating increased precipitation, flooding, and drought, there is a looming threat to the progress made in reducing diarrheal disease burden. To inform and prioritise effective political responses, SPRINGS is building 4 case studies in Italy, Ghana, Romania, and Tanzania with contrasting vulnerabilities.