Page 19 - CIWA Water Data Revolution Overview Report

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

Tools related to water accounting emerged as an important focus in the capacity building program
under Pillar B, given their important role in quantifying water availability, usage, and allocation.
This process is essential for the cooperative management of transboundary water resources,
enabling organizations to make informed and equitable decisions on water distribution. The

knowledge gained in these sessions laid the groundwork for the next phase, Pillar C, where
analytical tools in the form of dashboards were developed to demonstrate the practical
application of RS data and tools. These dashboards, in alignment with the RBOs needs outlined
in Pillar A, were designed particularly to support water accounting and promote equitable water
resource management practices in selected pilot river basins.

For a detailed description and outcome of Pillar B, please refer to Annex 2, where the methods,
structure, and key results are comprehensively outlined.

5. Pillar C – Adapting Innovative Tools for WRM

Pillar C focused on adoption of RS data and data platforms for decision making by: (i) supporting
end to end sustainable demand-driven services in selected RBOs; and (ii) testing and adopting
efficient and free/low-cost hydro-informatics data, tools, and services. Responding to the
interests and requests from RBOs, this pillar provided access to a tailored analytical tool that
supports decision-making related to transboundary water resources management. In this
context, water accounting has emerged as a crucial tool for promoting sustainable water
resource management in transboundary basins. In the context of this initiative, the goal of this
tool was to serve as a starting point for broader, long-term discussions and engagements and to

enhance water resource management (WRM) assessments by leveraging remote sensing (RS)
data to bridge the gap between data and decision-making. While the tool was not initially
designed as a comprehensive application with definitive decision-making outcomes, it holds the
potential to evolve into one over time.

5.1. Understanding Water Accounting (WA): Benefits and Methodology

Given the expected increase in water demand, ensuring sustainable and efficient water
availability will require a shift toward investment strategies that enhance the productive use of
water. This necessitates a clear understanding of the multifaceted challenges to be addressed,
such as inefficient water usage in agriculture, land use practices that lead to excessive water
consumption, and a lack of awareness regarding environmental water needs. Overcoming these
challenges requires a comprehensive understanding of the unique water context in each region,

18