Capacity-Building Workshop Part 2: AI-Driven Digital Twin for Water Management for the Limpopo River Basin and Inclusive Integration with Citizen Science

Langa, Nicole; Opola, Felix Ouko; Darlington, Daniella

Capacity-Building Workshop Part 2: AI-Driven Digital Twin for Water Management for the Limpopo River Basin and Inclusive Integration with Citizen Science

Autores

Langa, Nicole

Opola, Felix Ouko

Darlington, Daniella

Editor

International Water Management Institute
CGIAR Accelerator for Digital Transformation

Descripción

This report documents key insights from a multi-stakeholder capacity-building workshop held in Gaborone, Botswana, on June 11, 2025, focused on the integration of citizen science into an AI-driven Digital Twin for water management in the Limpopo River Basin (LRB) convened by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) with support from the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) funded by Enabel. The workshop brought together member state representatives from Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to co-develop socially inclusive and technically robust decision-support tools. The primary objective of the workshop was to gather stakeholder feedback on integrating citizen-generated water quality data into the Digital Twin while addressing incentivization and digital inclusivity. Participants were introduced to citizen science tools and engaged in co-design exercises to conceptualize data visualization ideas that convey advanced digital interfaces with accessible communication channels like radio and SMS. Group discussions emphasized the need for hybrid digital ecosystems, combining mobile applications, mass media, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems to ensure broad and inclusive participation. A key focus was incentivization, framed around empowering citizen scientists as co-producers of knowledge rather than passive data collectors. Stakeholders favoured sustainable, non-extractive incentives such as skills development, livelihood opportunities, education, and public recognition. The UNICEF-supported YOMA platform was presented as both an onboarding and incentive distribution mechanism, particularly targeting youth engagement. Digital inclusivity was assessed using the Multidimensional Digital Inclusivity Index (MDII), with a pilot evaluation of IWMI’s AI-powered WaterCopilot. While participants highlighted benefits such as faster access to localized information and improved decision-making, concerns were raised around costs, data trust, human oversight, and the risk of eroding critical skills. Overall, the workshop reinforced the importance of participatory design, ethical AI governance, and sustained stakeholder engagement in advancing inclusive, AI-enabled water management in the LRB.