pida sectors
water sector
Focusing on regional cooperation through multipurpose storage, irrigation, and transboundary water projects to enhance water security across shared river basins across Africa.
Overview
Outline
Overview
PIDA Trans-boundary Water
Importance of IWRM
PIDA Priority Projects
Challenges and Innovative Solutions
Policy and Governance Frameworks
Africa's Transboundary Water Resources
Building a sustainable future through innovative water management, robust infrastructure, and regional cooperation under the PIDA initiative.
View Priority ProjectsTransboundary Water Management in Africa
Africa's water resources are vital to the continent's socio-economic development, sustaining over 60 transboundary river basins that are pivotal for agriculture, energy production, sanitation, and economic growth. Approximately 90% of Africa's surface water resources cross at least one national boundary, impacting around 75–80% of the population, underlining the urgent need for collaborative water management.
Effective cooperative management of these resources is critical, helping to mitigate drought, flooding, and water scarcity, reducing conflict potential, and improving livelihoods. Yet currently, only about 29% of these basins are governed by operational agreements, highlighting significant room for improvement.
Key Facts
- 63 International Basins: Covering approximately 62% of Africa's land area.
- ~90% Shared Water: Majority of surface waters are transboundary.
- Hundreds of Millions Reliant: Three-quarters of Africans live in these basins.
- 29% Governed: Only about a third of basins have operational agreements.
Major transboundary river basins representing surface water resources in Africa
Map of Transboundary River Basins in Africa (2018)
IUCN Bridge Project Transboundary Basins
Examples like the Nile Basin Initiative demonstrate the powerful impact of effective transboundary water cooperation, fostering dialogue and joint development among riparian states despite historical tensions.
Importance of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM)
IWRM is critical to sustainably managing water resources, ensuring equity between upstream and downstream nations. It emphasizes comprehensive basin-wide strategies rather than fragmented national approaches, protecting ecosystems, managing demands, and promoting social equity.
Key IWRM Principles
- Equity: Fair allocation of water resources and benefits among all stakeholders
- Environmental Sustainability: Protection of ecosystems and biodiversity
- Economic Efficiency: Maximizing economic benefits from water use
- Stakeholder Participation: Inclusive decision-making processes
The African Union's Africa Water Vision 2025 calls explicitly for joint management strategies, data sharing, and synchronized national policies to achieve water security across the continent.
2025
Africa Water Vision Target Year
Effective IWRM frameworks contribute to peace-building, economic stability, and climate resilience across Africa, turning potential water conflicts into opportunities for cooperation and shared prosperity.
PIDA Priority Water Projects
Under PIDA, strategic transboundary projects aim to bolster water security, energy production, and regional economic integration. These projects represent significant investments in Africa's future, with potential transformative impacts across multiple countries.
Navigational Corridor from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean
A visionary project proposing a navigable route along the Nile, significantly boosting trade and economic integration across multiple countries. This ambitious corridor would connect East Africa to the Mediterranean, creating unprecedented opportunities for commerce and regional connectivity.
- Enhanced Navigation: Year-round navigability for commercial vessels
- Trade Facilitation: Reduced transport costs and time
- Regional Integration: Connecting 10+ countries through waterways
Fomi Multipurpose Dam (Guinea)
Enhancing hydropower generation, irrigation capacity, and stabilizing water flow in the Niger Basin, benefiting Guinea and downstream nations including Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. This project exemplifies how transboundary infrastructure can serve multiple purposes while distributing benefits across borders.
- Hydropower Generation: 90 MW capacity
- Irrigation: Supporting over 100,000 hectares
- Flow Regulation: Mitigating floods and droughts
- Beneficiary Countries: Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria
Lesotho Highlands Water Project – Phase II
Expanding the transfer of water from Lesotho's highlands to South Africa's Gauteng region, this project generates hydropower and provides essential water supply, exemplifying successful transboundary cooperation. The project demonstrates how water-rich and water-scarce countries can collaborate for mutual benefit.
- Water Transfer: 780 million cubic meters annually
- Hydropower: 1,200 MW capacity
- Economic Benefits: Revenue for Lesotho, water security for South Africa
- Timeline: Phase II completion expected by 2026
PIDA's Priority Action Plan 2 (2021–2030) includes 15 high-impact transboundary water projects that promise significant regional benefits, with a combined investment value exceeding $10 billion.
Implementation Challenges and Innovative Solutions
Challenges
- Funding Constraints: Large-scale projects require substantial investments, often exceeding national budgets.
- Multinational Coordination: Differing national priorities and legal frameworks complicate project implementation.
- Climate Change and Environmental Stress: Increasing variability in climate patterns challenges existing water management practices and infrastructure.
- Economic Viability: Ensuring long-term sustainability and return on investment for large infrastructure projects.
- Equitable Benefit Sharing: Ensuring fair distribution of costs and benefits among participating countries.
Solutions
- Innovative Financing Models: Using blended finance, PPPs, and regional funds such as Africa50 to attract investment.
- Enhanced River Basin Organizations: Strengthening governance structures like the Niger Basin Authority and Okavango Commission to facilitate collaborative decision-making and conflict resolution.
- Climate-Adaptive Infrastructure: Implementing flexible water-sharing agreements and climate-proofed designs to ensure resilience and sustainability.
- Data Sharing Platforms: Developing joint monitoring systems and open data policies to build trust and improve decision-making.
- Capacity Building: Investing in technical expertise and institutional capacity at national and regional levels.
Case Study: Innovative Financing for Transboundary Water
The PIDA-PAP 2 Service Delivery MechanismA specialized technical assistance facility that helps prepare projects to bankability is revolutionizing how transboundary water projects are financed. By combining concessional loans, grants, and private equity, projects like the Angololo Multipurpose Water Resources Development Project between Kenya and Uganda have secured funding despite complex cross-border challenges.
Policy and Governance Frameworks
Strong governance frameworks are essential for successful transboundary water cooperation. These institutional arrangements provide the foundation for sustainable management of water resources, ensuring accountability, transparency, and coordinated decision-making among nations. Collaborative policies enable effective conflict resolution, foster equitable benefit sharing, and promote the sustainable development of shared resources.
- Legal Frameworks: Establishing clear rights and responsibilities among nations.
- Institutional Mechanisms: Strengthening regional bodies and agreements.
- Monitoring & Evaluation: Ensuring transparency and accountability in water resource management.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Promoting inclusive participation in decision-making processes.
By aligning national policies with regional frameworks, countries can create a resilient network that not only addresses immediate challenges but also paves the way for long-term sustainable development across the continent.
About Us
The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) is a strategic initiative launched by the African Union to address critical infrastructure gaps across the continent.Â
pida@auda-nepad.orgÂ
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