Access to safe and clean water (Sustainable Development Goal 6 of the United Nations) is a fundamental human right and the most basic human need. However, 2.2 billion people still lacked safely managed drinking water, including 703 million without a basic water service in 2022, according to the United Nations. The current research examined the current state of water security of Burkina Faso which is one of the most vulnerable in the field of water security. The current study identifies a significant research gap in the field of sustainable water security by adopting a security-focused perspective, complementing the existing emphasis on water-related development. The present study shows that despite the numbers of water-related development projects—financed by the African Development Bank—Burkina Faso is the only country in West Africa where the proportion of the population with access to basic drinking water services has decreased (by 8%) between 2000 and 2022. Moreover, 40% of the country’s regions had fewer people with access to basic drinking water services. The research also found that Burkina Faso is the most affected by water-related conflicts in West and Central Africa where the regions of the country with the highest number of water-related conflicts are precisely those with the least access to drinking water and the least number of implemented water security projects. Thus, water security strategies must prioritize physical security, since armed conflict can easily reverse years of progress and investment. Graphical abstract

The Sustainable Development Report 2023 showed that 2.2 billion people lacked access to safely managed drinking water in 2022, with 703 million unable to access even basic services. In addition to this, the Afrobarometer’s 2024 survey indicated that Sub-Saharan Africa water supply was ranked among the top governance challenges in 39 surveyed countries. This study explores regional and urban–rural disparities in access to drinking water, while also assessing the scope and geography of Hungary’s water-related development cooperation on the continent. The methodology combines quantitative indicators from the UNICEF–WHO Joint Monitoring Programme with geospatial visualization techniques. The analysis reveals substantial inequalities in rural Eastern Africa, over 97 million people rely on surface water or unimproved sources, while Middle Africa reports more than 55 million in the same categories. In contrast, urban areas in Northern Africa show significantly better outcomes, with over 111 million having access to safely managed drinking water. These figures highlight persistent spatial divides and the critical need for targeted investment in rural service provision. Hungarian development engagement was examined through project records from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, alongside publicly available data from Hungarian NGOs and private sector actors. The study finds that Hungary has contributed to water-related initiatives in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, and Uganda, but has had limited involvement in other severely affected countries, including Niger (31% unsafe access), Madagascar (42%), and the Central African Republic (37%). This study addresses a significant research gap since the intersection of Hungarian development cooperation and African water security has received minimal scholarly attention to date. By offering a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of both African water access and Hungary’s related foreign engagement, the research contributes to the understanding of potential synergies and future avenues for international collaboration in this field.

This study develops and applies a Climate–Water–Health (CWH) Nexus Index to compare multi-dimensional risk trajectories across six African Least Developed Countries, namely, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Niger, and Togo, each representing major climatic regions. Using decadal averages for 2000–2009 and 2010–2020, the study constructs three sub-indices—Climate Risk Index, Water Insecurity Index, and Health Burden Index—and then aggregates them into a composite CWH index. Indicators are harmonized via min–max normalization, and water and health measures are expressed per 100,000 population to ensure cross-country comparability under differing population sizes. The results of the study indicate substantial heterogeneity in both levels and drivers of nexus risk. The CWH risk decreased in most countries from the 2000s to the 2010s, while relative positions shifted as improvements occurred unevenly across dimensions. Sensitivity analysis with equal and dimension-focused weights confirms that core country groupings and extremes are robust to plausible weighting schemes. External consistency checks show a strong negative Pearson correlation between the standard CWH and the Human Development Index in both decades, indicating that higher human development is associated with lower Nexus risk. The proposed framework is transparent, scalable, and suitable for extension to broader African coverage and subnational mapping.

Generation Z increasingly demands mentoring in both educational and professional contexts, preferring accessible, supportive, and co-creative approaches over traditional top-down models. In multicultural higher education environments, understanding these expectations poses a challenge. This study examines Generation Z’s mentoring needs in higher education, with a particular focus on institutional practices and differences between students enrolled in Hungarian-language and English-language programs. It investigates student perceptions of existing mentoring system, identifies gaps between needs and current support, and offers recommendations for enhancing performance and satisfaction. Based on the findings of a systematic literature review (SLR) on mentoring, a quantitative questionnaire survey was conducted among 117 students at Széchenyi István University, Győr, Hungary. The analysis compared students of Hungarian-language and English-language programs, focusing on trust in mentors, preferred mentor characteristics, and function-related expectations. Findings reveal that while most students are aware of the mentoring system, trust and familiarity levels vary: Hungarian students report higher trust and awareness of their mentors. Both groups prefer young, approachable mentors and value personalized support. Cultural differences emerged, with international students emphasizing psychological support and Hungarians prioritizing career guidance. Across all groups, administrative assistance was the most valued function. The results highlight the need for mentoring systems that reflect Generation Z’s preferences for transparent, informal, and individualized support. Universities increasingly operate like organizations, requiring onboarding processes that foster belonging and retention. Effective mentoring can strengthen integration, reduce dropout rates, and address diverse socio-cultural needs.