A word from our Chairman

Monthly updates from David Jordan OBE, Chairman of Sand Dams Worldwide.

Before and after: revisiting Kyekuyu's sand dams

This month, for SDW Chairman David Jordan OBE's final report in this ‘before and after’ series, he shares highlights from revisiting two sand dams built by Kyekuyu self-help group with the support of SDW, our partners the Africa Sand Dam Foundation and two fantastic groups of expedition volunteers. Read more

Before and after: revisiting Muka's sand dam

Following on from his last ‘before and after’ report, this month Chairman David Jordan OBE is delighted to share highlights from revisiting Muka self-help group’s 2020 sand dam, built with the support of SDW, our partners the Africa Sand Dam Foundation, and once again, an amazing group of expedition volunteers. Read more

Before and after: revisiting Woni wa Mutyanthii's sand dam

Continuing his series of reports from visits to sand dams in Kenya built with the support of Sand Dams Worldwide, the Africa Sand Dam Foundation and expedition volunteers, this month SDW Chairman David Jordan OBE is delighted to share feedback from visiting Woni wa Mutyanthii self-help group and their sand dam. Read more

Before and after: revisiting Athiani’s sand dam

Last month, Chairman David Jordan wrote about his visit to Isunguluni’s sand dam. This report covers his visit to Athiani self-help group and their sand dam which, over 10 years on, continues to play an integral part in their lives. Read more

Before and after: revisiting Isunguluni’s sand dam

A return to Isunguluni self-help group's sand dam in Kenya reveals the wonderful transformative impact of a sand dam built 10 years ago. Read more

A word about legacy giving

Chairman David Jordan OBE blogs about legacy giving, and how gifts in Wills are helping charities to budget for the future and to plan for the long-term. Read more

Preparing for a fairer future

Following another bleak Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, and news of devastation in Malawi following a tropical storm, our Chairman looks at ways we can help the world's most vulnerable people build climate resilience and prepare for the future. Read more

Every little helps

Chairman David Jordan shares thoughts on what you can do to help those living with the increasing threat of climate change and without a reliable supply of clean water. Read more

New year, new determination

Chairman David Jordan kickstarts 2023 with a blog reflecting on some of the global challenges of 2022 relevant to our work, and our 'new determination' for the new year; to press on with our plans (as outlined in our revised Strategy) to support the construction of 1 million sand dams for 0.5 billion people by 2050. Read more

Scaling up climate action

Chairman David Jordan shares his thoughts from Egypt’s COP27, the connections to our work, and how your support of our upcoming Big Give Christmas Challenge can help support more people living in drylands to gain access to clean water and build climate resilience. Read more

Local action delivering big returns

Chairman David Jordan shares highlights from a recent sand dam expedition in southeast Kenya, and our recently published 2021/22 annual report. Read more

Latest

How Sand Dams Are Solving Water Scarcity: Podcast with fundsforNGOs

In an episode of the fundsforNGOs Podcast, Jon Lobb interviews Dwain Lucktung, Communications Manager at Sand Dams Worldwide, about how sand dams work and the impact of sand dam projects in drylands.
February 2026 sand dam expedition with Koy Clothing

In February 2026, a group of volunteers teamed up with Sand Dams Worldwide, Koy Clothing and our local partner, Africa Sand Dam Foundation to support a community in Kenya to build a sand dam. The sand dam was funded by Koy Clothing and their wonderful customers, and will go on to provide the community with a local lifelong supply of clean water.
£22,304.97 raised in our 2026 Big Give Earth Raise campaign. Thank you!

Sand Dams Worldwide is took part in the Big Give’s 2026 Earth Raise campaign (formerly the Green Match Fund), which offered supporters of participating charities the opportunity to have their donations doubled for just seven days. Over £22,000 was raised which will go towards a sand dam project in Tanzania.
Sand dams: empowering women and girls

Please donate what you can to help empower more vulnerable women and girls living in drylands (like Kenyan farmer Martha and her daughter, Faith) to access clean water with sand dams and transform their own lives.

We support communities to build sustainable sand dams in some of the poorest, drought-stricken regions across our world.
What is a sand dam?
Donate

Please click here to donate what you can to transform lives and land with sand dams and clean water.
Watch how sand dams work

Film explaining how sand dams work and their potential impact in the world's drylands
Reversing land degradation and desertification

Conservation of the environment is critical to the economic development of people living in drylands.
1 million sand dams for 0.5 billion people by 2050

Read about our plan to directly support other organisations to build sand dams, in turn, realising our vision to support millions of the world’s poorest people by helping them to transform their own lives through water and soil conservation in drylands.
The challenge

Find out what are drylands, why they are they are such harsh regions to live, how sand dams are applicable in drylands and what difference they can make to over 40% of the world's land surface.
Act Now: Tackle Food Crisis With Sand Dams

Support dryland communities to overcome food shortages, and ensure they can grow enough food to eat and sell. It all starts with ensuring they have access to water. That’s where sand dams come in.
Sand dam manual

For everything you need to know about building sand dams, click here to read (and download for free!), Sand Dams: A Practical & Technical Manual.
Our approach

Find out more about Excellent's approach, from working with self-help groups to why we partner we on-ground, local organisations.