Page 88 - CIWA Water Data Revolution Overview Report

1 Introduction

Africa’s growing population, economic development, and changing climate are driving up
demand for water resources, while the lack of accessible, reliable data complicates efforts in
water management across international boundaries. This scarcity of water data presents a
significant obstacle to sustainable development, impacting food security, economic stability, and
regional cooperation, as most of Africa’s water resources span international borders.

The Water Data Revolution (WDR): Closing the Data Gap for Transboundary Water in Africa, a
program led by CIWA, aims to assist riparian governments in Africa in unlocking the potential for
sustainable, climate-resilient growth by addressing constraints to cooperative water resource
management and development. By leveraging state-of-the-art Remote Sensing (RS) technology
and tailored analytical tools, WDR empowers African River Basin Organizations (RBOs) and
Regional Organizations (ROs) to make data-driven, climate-resilient decisions.

RS is a key technology within WDR, offering broad, continuous data coverage that complements
ground-based observations. By combining RS and ground data, African institutions can make
informed, cooperative decisions, building resilience against climate challenges like floods and
droughts and ensuring sustainable use of shared water resources for both upstream and
downstream communities.

2 WDR’s structure and current progress

To accomplish its objectives, the WDR is organized into three strategic pillars: Pillar A – Data
Status and Needs Assessment; Pillar B – Enhancing RS Data and Capacity Building; and Pillar C –
Application of RS Data and Tools. Pillar A conducted an in-depth assessment of the current data
landscape within African RBOs and ROs. This evaluation identifies gaps in data availability,
infrastructure, and technical capacity, informing future data needs for efficient transboundary
water management.

Building on Pillar A’s results, Pillar B focuses on improving RS data use and showcasing accessible
data products and tools. It provides training and workshops to strengthen organizational capacity
in data collection, management, and analysis, ensuring that decision-makers have the necessary
tools to apply data in managing water resources cooperatively and sustainably. Finally, Pillar C
supports selected organizations in adopting low-cost, practical RS data solutions for day-to-day
management of shared water resources. By implementing these technologies, organizations are
better equipped to handle challenges related to water storage, allocation, and management.

The initial assessment conducted under Pillar A highlighted significant data gaps within RBOs and
ROs. Many organizations face limitations due to inadequate technical resources and financial

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