Page 76 - CIWA AR25

Looking Ahead

LOOKING AHEAD

Globally, about seventy‑eight percent of jobs depend on for energy and agricultural development or through improving
the availability and quality of water resources, with national transport corridors. We are contributing to knowledge generation,
income levels correlating with job dependence on water examining the extent and characteristics of the water endowment
(lower‑income level equates to higher dependence).4 Water on the continent and how that underpins economic development
helps create, enable, and protect jobs. Access to clean water and and jobs.
sanitation also improves public health, reduces absenteeism,
and enhances productivity, enabling workers to perform better Despite the clear impacts of drought, management usually
and contribute to economic growth. But too much, too little, focuses on managing crises rather than anticipating drought
or too polluted water adversely impacts jobs in the energy, risks. In Eswatini, in Southern Africa, drought is both the most
manufacturing, health care, tourism, and agribusiness sectors. frequent and most severe hazard in terms of recurrence and
The water sector plays a vital role in driving employment and economic losses, respectively. What is unique is that Eswatini
improving job quality across these diverse water-dependent has begun a deliberative process, with support from the
industries. Strengthening transboundary water resources World Bank and CIWA, to build drought resilience—one of the
management is a key pathway to generating more and better most comprehensive and proactive approaches to drought
jobs while improving people’s quality of life, and CIWA’s risk management in Southern Africa. Eswatini is developing
technical assistance and other support underpin job creation drought-resilient water infrastructure, a drought early-warning
and economic growth. system that incorporates indigenous knowledge into drought
monitoring and citizen science in villages and schools, drought
CIWA’s work in the year ahead will continue to provide the preparedness plans for every city and town, and a disaster

enabling environment, investments, knowledge, and tools to risk financing strategy. Because of these investments, Eswatini
support livelihoods across the continent, and we will strengthen is positioned to reduce the costs and impacts of droughts,
the link between water and jobs at every opportunity. serving as a model of a more proactive approach to drought risk
management. Eswatini’s drought resilience forum scheduled for
That includes the work we will do to support the World September 2025 will include capacity building and knowledge
Bank’s new Pan‑African study examining how collaboration sharing in these areas and lay a foundation for regional
supports economic growth and job creation and how improved collaboration that will help the country eventually transform
transboundary water management supports the regional its new Drought Center into a regional hub for exchange and
agenda in Africa, whether through providing the prerequisites capacity building for other countries.

4 Water for Shared Prosperity. https://documentsinternal.worldbank.org/Search/34320569

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