Practica Foundation

He holds a BSc in Irrigation engineering from Mexico. Currently studying the second year of the master’s in international Land and Water Management at Wageningen University. With experience in designing irrigation systems and an increasing interest in the WASH sector, hee focuses on broadening the outcomes of the projects by really merging the technical solutions with their social reality. He likes to describe himself as ‘an engineer by training, but a social scientist by vocation’. At PRACTICA, Aldo has developed e-learning tools on Asset Management and manages a project that introduces solar irrigation pumps with a Pay-As-You-Go solution for farmers around sand rivers in Southern Mozambique.

Water and irrigation specialist with a focus on solar irrigation, manual drilling, low-cost geophysics and business development. Berry has a background in water management (Wageningen University) and rural development (Montpellier SupAgro) and participated in the Dutch young expert programme (YEP). He contributes to assessments, trainings and business linkages in a range of countries in West and East Africa.

Information Technology specialist, with experience in manual drilling and low-cost water systems. PhD in Physics (Eindhoven University). Focus on creation of software products and product management. At Practica, he creates web- and mobile apps for data capture for groundwater development, such as siting geophysics, drilling logs, and water level monitoring.

Mechanical engineer with over 40 years’ experience in Africa, Asia and the Netherlands. Passionate designer of tailor-made solar water pumps for irrigation, drinking water, wetland management and drainage. His designs are based on a sustainability perspective that translates user requirements and financial capacities into appropriate technical solutions.

Worked for 12 years at different engineering consultancy firms of which the last 7 years for PRACTICA. He has a background in mechanical engineering and policy analysis. His current focus is to introduce standardized modular drinking water systems combined with prepaid technology. These projects aim to introduce a business case that allows the system to be financially and technical sustainable – realistic price setting of water and minimizing operational and investment costs by using smart designs are key in this approach.

Judith has more than 10 years of work experience in the water and infrastructure sectors in the Netherlands and internationally. She has been working for international engineering firms, universities and Dutch government. Her background is in International Land and Water Management and she is an IPMA certified project manager. Spent dedicated time in Bangladesh, where she worked as an Innovation Fund manager, led an upscaling trajectory on climate smart community-based agricultural water management and supported NGOs in the WASH sectors. Has been assisting Practica since 2019 as a volunteer to strengthen the business case on modular piped water supply and is currently involved in asset management (on distance) training for Nepal.

With a background in international relations and public management and working experience in project coordination and event management, now assisting the PRACTICA staff in administration, logistics, financial management and all other organisational issues.

Marion joined Practica after her studies in agriculture and social sciences. She is part of the irrigation team, and as a French speaker, her work focuses mostly on West Africa. Versatile, she also supports other themes, plays a role in knowledge management, and designs our promotional materials.

Hydrogeologist/Programme Manager. Martin has 30+ years of experience in WASH-projects, mainly in Africa and Asia, and by supporting projects from the Netherlands. His work is focused towards sustainability by involving and motivating the local population, government, private sector and NGOs to work together and solve the WASH-issues with support of the project. Also, the local stakeholders are prepared to continue the achieved results after the project period. Martin is supporting PRACTICA as a volunteer.

Senior Water and Irrigation Specialist – Thematic Program Advisor.  Worked in the fields of drinking water and irrigation in Africa and Asia for the last 15 years. With his background in Human Mechanical Engineering and International Water Management he combines the fields to find sustainable solutions for challenging projects. He placed a lot of efforts within the PRACTICA organization on developing and managing capacity building programs to initiate innovations, scalable practices and new business concepts. He supports the team with know-how of the sector and practical experiences from the wide spread field work abroad.

Specialist in administration and finance, Haingo has worked in various international multi-donor NGOs for over 20 years (France Volunteers, Action Against Hunger, Nitidae), in the field of administration, human resources and finance.

She holds the position of administrator within PRACTICA Madagascar, managing all the administration, local human resources, obligations towards the local authorities, and the financial part of the structure and all the projects in Madagascar.

Specialist in the installation, monitoring and evaluation of water low cost technologies.
Involved with PRACTICA on the development and field testing of small diameter pump and the modification of pump sets running on kerosene, technical support to CARE in the introduction of small scale irrigation technologies in the South of Madagascar.

Jacquis is an industrial engineer, specialized in research and development projects for organic waste recovery procedures and innovative sludge emptying technologies. Before joining Practica he worked in Madagascar for 3 years in the water and sanitation sector.

He is currently part of the Dutch program “YEP” and supports the development of a pro-poor latrine emptying service in the city of Fianaranstoa Madagascar.

“I joined Practica Team to contribute with my skills to improving people’s daily lives by providing access to safe drinking water.”

Manitra is an hydraulic engineer who is well aware of the challenges in reaching sustainability in water and sanitation system. He joined the Practica team to share his knowledge on designing and building WASH structures. He has worked as a designer for water supply systems in eastern and south-eastern parts of Madagascar. He is also a manager for faecal sludge removal services and the main responsible for a number of family latrine construction initiatives in eastern Madagascar. Manitra currently participates in the Dutch Young Expert Programme (YEP Water).

WASH project engineer. Njaka studied Economy and Civil engineering and joined Practica following his passion for technology. He has gained valuable experience on the ground in rural areas and now participates in the Dutch Young Expert Program (YEP Water).

Njaka has contributed to a range of projects to professionalise the manual drilling sector in countries including Benin, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, and Uganda. In the Sanitation field he has been responsible for testing and improving fecal sludge emptying tools and training local service suppliers.

Njaka’s main skills are capacity building of local technicians and the development of new WASH technologies.

10 years of experience in steel construction, design and development of agricultural tools and water low cost technologies in Madagascar.
Involved with Practica on various project (FAO, UNICEF, CARE, MEDAIR) on the implementation of training session on the rota sludge (tool production and drilling method), the production of treadle pump and the installation of small scale irrigation technologies (spray, drip and californian system)

Xavier works over 10 years in the design and management of WASH projects with specific emphasis on low-cost solutions for water and sanitation. Since 2008 he has established fecal sludge management services in poor urban areas. The focus is on sustainability, addressing both technical and business challenges. With the Malagasy team, local stakeholders and the international sanitation network, Xavier is fully committed to develop a new generation of sanitation services for Madagascar and other African countries (Benin, Mali…).

Collins holds a bachelor in agricultural economics. At Futurepump Kenya Ltd he works on the monitoring and evaluation of the SF solar irrigation pumps and gathering feedback from farmers. He is currently working on the testing and development of the mini pivot technology by PRACTICA that will make irrigation simpler for small scale farmers in Africa. Collins participates in the Dutch Young Expert Program (YEP).

Joseph holds a Bachelor in Agricultural Engineering. He is an irrigation and M&E expert. Currently working at Kijani Testing Ltd, Joseph is responsible for monitoring and evaluation of all solar irrigation pumps, gathering feedback from farmers, as well as training distributors on the operation and maintenance of the pumps. He is also working on the testing and development of the mini pivot technology by PRACTICA that will make irrigation simpler for small scale farmers in Africa. Joseph participates in the Dutch Young Expert Program (YEP).

Water and Irrigation specialist with a focus on small scale irrigation. He holds a master in International Land and Water Management from Wageningen University. He worked for a development consultancy company for two years where he mainly worked on project proposals for the water, agriculture and environment sectors and a variety of multilateral and bilateral donors (EU, WB, GIZ etc.). At PRACTICA he works on business development and project coordination which he combines with providing technical input in projects. He has a multitask interest in project planning, fieldwork, knowledge management and capacity building. Luca speaks French and mainly works on irrigation projects in West Africa.

As an environmentalist by training, Nadine has specialized herself in water and sanitation. Her main competences are in waste water management and value chain development while conserving the environment. She is an experienced consultant and used to work as a research engineer on projects for the National Water Institute of the UAC in Benin. To date Nadine works for Practica Foundation as a junior sanitation expert in the OMIDELTA programme in Benin (OMI means water). Her mission is to provide technical support to assure the quality of works in the programme. Key elements are to support Parakou town in the implementation of the Directorate Sanitation Plan (PDA) on waste water and faecal sludge; and to contribute to the elaboration of similar PDAs with two other towns in Benin.

Senior Irrigation, Water and Sanitation specialist at PRACTICA. Worked for 20 years in West Africa to provide technical support in the development of appropriate water and sanitation technologies, solutions and services. He ensures the successful implementation of a portfolio of large projects for PRACTICA. Previously involved in the implementation of major projects on small scale irrigation (PPIP Niger, VISA Mauritania), Stephan is a key author and expert on the development of smallholder private irrigation in West Africa. He established and operated the PRACTICA office in Madagascar from 2005 till 2010.

Graduated in Industrial Design Engineering (MSc) at TU Delft. Expert in sustainable and social product development and social-cultural user research. Has extensive international experience in India, Kenya, Uganda, Suriname and more. Currently residing and working in Uganda.

Educational background in hydraulics and rural engineering and specialised in irrigation and drinking water management. 17 years of experience in irrigation and improving access to water and hygiene for rural communities. A particular focus on Californian irrigation systems, manual well drilling, and low-cost solar powered drinking water supply systems.

Zacharie holds a PhD in soil science at Wageningen University. He has 27 years’ work experience in project management, Integrated Soil fertility, irrigation systems, and value chain development.  Dr. Zida participated in designing small-scale irrigation and contributed to the development of low-cost drip irrigation to promote the technology among rural populations in central, northern, and eastern Burkina Faso.  Dr. Zida now works for PRACTICA as the Team Leader for the Technical Assistance to the Sahelian Irrigation Initiative (2iS) funded by the World Bank and managed by the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS).

Attie Kuiken has ample experience in the water sector. She typically operates as a board member or advisor to the board and is specialized in governance of cooperatives. Attie has specialist expertise tailoring the legal and financial structure of a cooperative, foundation or other initiative in such way that maximum impact is achieved by the organization. She is experienced with structured civil society initiatives.

Fred has a background as an entrepeneur and was educated as a mechanical engineer.

As founder and owner of an international company for more than 40 years, he has vast experience in operations, technics and finance.

Chemical engineer, has over 30 years’ experience in water management both in the Netherlands as abroad. Worked on wetland restoration is East Africa (lake Victoria) and  on the implementation of EU water policies in Eastern Europe. Previously worked as an associate professor at the Wageningen University and has been a guest lecturer at IHE in Delft. At present working for the ARCADIS water division as head of the advisory group on Knowledge an Policy Advise. Is chairman of the Practica board since 2011