Page 7 - CIWA Water Data Revolution Overview Report

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

1. Introduction

Africa’s rapidly increasing population, expanding economies, and changing climate are driving
increased demand for water, while outdated data systems hinder effective management of this
resource. Rising water needs for agriculture, industry, and households often strain existing
resources, creating tensions among competing sectors.

The scarcity of water resources is further exacerbated by climate change, which increases the
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frequency and intensity of droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events. These climatic
stresses not only strain water availability but also undermine agricultural productivity, affecting
livelihoods, infrastructure, and food security, and pushing vulnerable populations further into
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poverty. This further complicates the political, institutional, economic, and financial challenges
countries face as they manage and develop their transboundary rivers, lakes, and aquifers. These
impediments affecting the water sector constitute a bottleneck to growth and prosperity in Africa.
Capacity for sustainable water management is increasingly vital to stabilize ecosystems, protect
infrastructure, and support equitable development.

As the saying goes, “you can't manage what you can't measure”. Information and data on
quantity and quality of water is vital to ensure equitable and efficient use of transboundary water
– which is imperative for addressing other major development challenges in the region, such as
agricultural production and food security, and reducing conflict and displacements. With 90
percent of water in Africa falling within 63 international river basin catchments crossed by
multiple borders, water management in the region is inherently an international and cooperative
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endeavor.

Improved management of water resources and increased resilience to hydrological extremes
requires understanding water resource dynamics at the basin level. This can only be achieved
based on data and observations, and it is the foundation for efficient and environmentally sound
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management of water with proper consideration for upstream and downstream users. Basin
organization are formed to collectively collaborate on these shared issues but often lack the
complete picture of the situation to do so. To face these challenges adequately, governments and
regional organizations need data-driven decisions to inform cooperative transboundary water

1 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Available at:
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/.
2 African Development Bank. Africa Water Vision 2025: Equitable and Sustainable Use of Water for Socioeconomic Development, 2010. Available
at: https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Generic-
Documents/african%20water%20vision%202025%20to%20be%20sent%20to%20wwf5.pdf
3 World Bank. "Cooperation in International Waters in Africa (CIWA) Program." World Bank, 2023. Available at:
https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/cooperation-in-international-waters-in-africa
4 García, L.E, Rodríguez, D. J. , Wijnen, M., & Pakulski, I. (Eds.). (2016). Earth observation for water resources management: Current use and
future opportunities for the water sector. Washington, DC: World Bank Group.
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