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Water Data Revolution: Closing the data gap for transboundary water in Africa

Water Data

Revolution: Closing

the data gap for

transboundary

water in Africa

IWA supported the Water Data RS-based technology, data products, WDR initiated development of a
C
Revolution (WDR): Closing the and analytical tools. WDR then used the Water Accounting Dashboard in
Data Gap for Transboundary Water in outcomes of the assessment to provide February 2024 to showcase how
Africa (Bank-executed technical virtual capacity building for RBOs. continental-scale products can be
assistance) to improve regional transformed into practical and
organizational capacity to collect, In parallel to capacity-building actionable tools for water
manage, and use RS data for activities, WDR initiated the accounting applications, customized
evidence-based decision making. development of a Water Accounting to meet needs and requirements and
This technical assistance is building Dashboard for the Volta Basin provide valuable insights into water
regional capacity for, and Authority (VBA) and the INMACOM. availability, usage, and trends. The
demonstrating applications of, RS data The assessment found a need for RBOs development of user-friendly
platforms to improve management of to have an overview of their water dashboards is crucial, as it simplifies
transboundary waters. WDR is helping resources at a larger scale (e.g., basin complex data into visually engaging
clients adopt RS data and data level). To maximize the effectiveness of and easy-to-understand formats. This
platforms for decision making by (i) investment in WRM, two factors are ensures that stakeholders with varying
supporting end-to-end, sustainable, crucial: (i) the availability of accurate and levels of technical expertise can use
demand-driven services and (ii) testing appropriate data and (ii) a shared the information efficiently for decision
and adopting efficient and free or understanding and acceptance of making and planning.
low-cost hydro-informatics data, tools, management options among diverse
and services. This initiative has three stakeholders. 39 This requires the To launch this project, an initial
pillars: Pillar A) assessment of needs, establishment of a suitable framework technical consultation workshop was
Pillar B) capacity building, and Pillar C) for planning, monitoring, and evaluating held with VBA specialists and
adapting innovative tools for improved water resources within river basins. representatives from member
management of water resources. Therefore, Water Accounting becomes countries. This collaborative workshop
one of the essential tools for improved allowed VBA to outline its expectations,
WDR first assessed the data demand and informed management of water identify needs, and guide the creation
and capacity of RBOs from 37 SSA resources at the basin level, allowing of a comprehensive, user-friendly, and
countries, which revealed data gaps RBOs to build a better understanding of interactive dashboard. The workshop
and priority needs that could be the status of the resource and plan was essential for involving VBA and its
mitigated through adoption of future investments accordingly. stakeholders in a participatory

39 Karimi, P., Bastiaanssen, W. G. M., and Molden, D.: Water Accounting Plus (WA+) – a water accounting procedure for complex river basins based on satellite
71 measurements, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 2459–2472, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-2459-2013, 2013.