Page 105 - CIWA Water Data Revolution Overview Report

would have benefited from longer sessions to be more familiar with the tools and

methods.

• Continuous capacity building: Continuous capacity building at the local level is

urgently needed. This includes training programs and internships to increase
knowledge transfer and develop local expertise. Further it was suggested to involve

local master's and PhD students in studying the dashboard's applicability at a local

scale.

Tools such as the water accounting dashboard can support RBOs and national agencies in

managing, planning water resources while communicating water resources related

information to relevant stakeholders. The data and information can be used for identifying

regional water availability, water use patterns, and the impacts of climate change on available
water resources.

1.0 Introduction

About 40% of the global population is facing water scarcity challenges. Climate change, one

of the most significant challenges of time, is accelerating catastrophic water events at an
unprecedented rate. While the increasing global population is tipping the balance towards

high demands and water scarcity, it is essential to understand how much water is available,

how much we use, and how much we can conserve and use efficiently. Furthermore, as the

agricultural sector represents, on average, 70% of water withdrawals globally, relevant
agricultural water management and planning decisions must be based on good quality

information and a sound understanding of the local context. However, such information is

often unavailable in Africa. Water Accounting serves as a tool for addressing this knowledge

gap by providing quantitative estimates of the different components of the water balance,
which is critical for understanding and managing water resources.

Water accounting is a vital component of planning procedures for water resource
management, particularly under water scarcity conditions and in the face of increasing risks

and uncertainties. Water resources strategies and investment planning for effective water

resources management (WRM) requires the establishment of suitable frameworks for

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