Persistent groundwater data scarcity: Challenges and advancements from a co-creation process in Malawi

Abstract

Groundwater monitoring is essential to sustainable water resource management and climate resilience strategies – a source of key data to support decision-making. However, in many regions of the world including in Malawi, a country that is heavily reliant on groundwater, the scarcity of groundwater monitoring data is a persistent challenge. The scarcity of data is compounded by the in-operation of existing groundwater monitoring networks. While operational challenges have often been framed as a technical or financial issue, this study applies a co-creation methodology to explore the wider institutional, procedural, and social factors contributing to persistent data scarcity. Drawing from sourced grey literature and a series of participatory workshops held in Malawi with stakeholders from across the water sector, including community representatives, several systemic and interconnected challenges were identified. Themes of challenges include institutional and governance fragmentation, procedural ambiguity, limited and uncertain financing, and a lack of formalised community engagement. Participants emphasised that these challenges are not independent and addressing them in isolation is unlikely to lead to long-term improvement in data availability. Instead, data scarcity is a symptom of deeper systemic issues, and any attempt to improve the monitoring network must consider the broader context in which it operates. The findings suggest that future efforts, in Malawi and in other global contexts, should prioritise adaptive and inclusive strategies, including strengthened institutional coordination, updated procedural guidance, and an expanded role for community participation in monitoring activities.