Involving collaboration between British, Kenyan, Ethiopian and Italian researchers and partners, the project has already documented how and when these mobile and semi-mobile pastoralists developed sophisticated strategies for accessing water and distributing it equitably, with a particular focus on the various networks of hand-dug wells. Our research has also shown that the installation by external actors of deeper boreholes subject to different forms of management and imported technologies has led to a growing disconnect between communities, especially the youth, from their water heritage. Through this example, the project aims to find mechanisms for the better integration of the protection, utilization and celebration of cultural heritage assets into local, national and international development policies aimed at delivering on the UN’s SDG targets. We are approaching this through a combination of training workshops targeting development specialists, the production of animated videos and teaching materials on the value of embedding heritage considerations into sustainable development interventions, and producing a short film on the tangible and intangible heritage of our study regions.