Water situation dire in Africa
The water situation in Africa is currently dire, with very limited exploitation of its resources.
About 411 million people in Africa still lack even a basic water service, while 799 million people lack basic sanitation services, 208 million still practice open defecation, and 839 million still lack basic hygiene services.
This is according to Herbert Chinokoro, senior water and sanitation specialist expert at the African Development Bank and task manager for Namibia, Zambia and Lesotho.
He was speaking at the national workshop on water security and climate change in Namibia.
He said the development potential of Africa’s water resources is constrained by a huge gap, which is holding back the continent’s transformation and risks compounding the impacts of climate change.
Impact felt
He said in Africa, climate change is especially pronounced, with droughts and floods becoming more frequent and annually responsible for at least 1 000 deaths; 13 million people are seriously affected, and US$520 million in direct economic damages have been reported since the beginning of the millennium.
“The average per capita water withdrawal in Africa is less than 40% of the world’s average, about 11% of the hydropower potential utilised, and only about 6% of cultivated land is irrigated, with the irrigable potential being higher.”
Chinokoro said increasing pressures and threats to water resources are intensified by demographic trends in Africa and the effects of climate change.
He said this huge infrastructure gap hampers water security and directly affects the quality of life for millions of Africans.
“It undermines sustainable access to water for human well-being, secure livelihoods, and socio-economic growth and development.”
Chinokoro said inadequate infrastructure also increases the risk of waterborne pollution, poor water quality, water-related disasters and endangering ecosystems.
Weak oversight
At the sectoral level, there are increasing consequences of weak water governance and weak water management, such as unpredictable food production, unreliable electricity supplies, health impacts, and sanitation.
He added that interrelationships among the water, food and energy sectors pose difficult trade-offs and result in unintended consequences.
“Water is a key economic input that Africa must develop to attain and sustain the economic growth to which it aspires.”
However, challenges continue to constrain the ability of countries to harness this resource.
“Changing rainfall patterns and specific droughts can have a big impact on water availability and bring shifts in the quantities of water and variability.”
Invest
Chinokoro said the risks and opportunities relating to water security have never been greater.
Sustainable pathways are required to anticipate and manage the inevitable increases in water scarcity – against a backdrop of climate change, urbanisation, fiscal constraints and fragility.
“Since 2012, the African Development Bank has invested an estimated USD$6.5 billion in water resources, water supply and sanitation services,” Chinokoro said.
At the end of October 2021, the Bank’s active water sector portfolio stood at USD$5.02 billion, comprising over 100 projects implemented in 40 countries.
In Namibia, the bank is supporting the government with N$1.893 billion and a grant of 3 million euros (N$62 million) towards the water sector support programme.
About 411 million people in Africa still lack even a basic water service, while 799 million people lack basic sanitation services, 208 million still practice open defecation, and 839 million still lack basic hygiene services.
This is according to Herbert Chinokoro, senior water and sanitation specialist expert at the African Development Bank and task manager for Namibia, Zambia and Lesotho.
He was speaking at the national workshop on water security and climate change in Namibia.
He said the development potential of Africa’s water resources is constrained by a huge gap, which is holding back the continent’s transformation and risks compounding the impacts of climate change.
Impact felt
He said in Africa, climate change is especially pronounced, with droughts and floods becoming more frequent and annually responsible for at least 1 000 deaths; 13 million people are seriously affected, and US$520 million in direct economic damages have been reported since the beginning of the millennium.
“The average per capita water withdrawal in Africa is less than 40% of the world’s average, about 11% of the hydropower potential utilised, and only about 6% of cultivated land is irrigated, with the irrigable potential being higher.”
Chinokoro said increasing pressures and threats to water resources are intensified by demographic trends in Africa and the effects of climate change.
He said this huge infrastructure gap hampers water security and directly affects the quality of life for millions of Africans.
“It undermines sustainable access to water for human well-being, secure livelihoods, and socio-economic growth and development.”
Chinokoro said inadequate infrastructure also increases the risk of waterborne pollution, poor water quality, water-related disasters and endangering ecosystems.
Weak oversight
At the sectoral level, there are increasing consequences of weak water governance and weak water management, such as unpredictable food production, unreliable electricity supplies, health impacts, and sanitation.
He added that interrelationships among the water, food and energy sectors pose difficult trade-offs and result in unintended consequences.
“Water is a key economic input that Africa must develop to attain and sustain the economic growth to which it aspires.”
However, challenges continue to constrain the ability of countries to harness this resource.
“Changing rainfall patterns and specific droughts can have a big impact on water availability and bring shifts in the quantities of water and variability.”
Invest
Chinokoro said the risks and opportunities relating to water security have never been greater.
Sustainable pathways are required to anticipate and manage the inevitable increases in water scarcity – against a backdrop of climate change, urbanisation, fiscal constraints and fragility.
“Since 2012, the African Development Bank has invested an estimated USD$6.5 billion in water resources, water supply and sanitation services,” Chinokoro said.
At the end of October 2021, the Bank’s active water sector portfolio stood at USD$5.02 billion, comprising over 100 projects implemented in 40 countries.
In Namibia, the bank is supporting the government with N$1.893 billion and a grant of 3 million euros (N$62 million) towards the water sector support programme.
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