Africa-Press – Uganda. Africa faces an intensifying water crisis driven by climate change, marked by increasingly erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, devastating floods and rising sea levels.
These shifts threaten water security, heighten disaster risks and degrade vital aquatic ecosystems on which economies and communities depend, from mountain springs to coastal deltas. This is according to the recently launched Africa Water Vision 2063 and policy document. Shared water resources represent a unique opportunity for Africa
The report by the African Ministers’ Council on Water outlines an ambitious roadmap to secure sustainable water resources and safe sanitation services across the continent, in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want.
The report notes that Africa’s water resources are not always located where they are most needed, creating a spatial mismatch between availability and demand.“Bridging this gap will require cooperation to develop infrastructure, mobilise financing, and prioritise water on the political agenda to ensure availability.
“Focus will be placed on two key areas: first, solutions that demonstrate a viable path to overcoming water scarcity; and second, building strong confidence in their investment potential.”
The document further emphasises that shared water resources represent a unique opportunity to overcome geographic and structural divides.
Have you read? UN report flags global ‘water bankruptcy’ as Africa faces rising risks
Transboundary water basins, it says, can serve as platforms for regional integration, economic cooperation and peacebuilding.
To unlock this potential, four foundational action areas are identified as critical to successful integration:
Respecting the rights of others
Advancing the free flow of information and transparency
Integrating economic, social and ecological values into transboundary water governance
Aligning water cooperation with economic and security frameworks
The report underscores that aquatic ecosystems — including rivers, wetlands, lakes, aquifers and coastal zones — form the natural infrastructure underpinning water security and climate resilience.
Their degradation leads to reduced water yields, declining water quality, loss of fisheries and heightened flood and erosion risks, among other impacts.
Have you read? UN report flags global ‘water bankruptcy’ as Africa faces rising risks
“Policy must mandate and enforce comprehensive ecosystem-based adaptation strategies in a transboundary context.
“Legally binding frameworks are required to define and protect environmental flows; conserve critical watersheds and recharge zones; restore degraded wetlands and floodplains; and establish marine protected areas. Such frameworks are essential to safeguarding socio-environmental sustainability.”
Protecting and restoring these natural systems, the report argues, will strengthen their capacity to deliver long-term, cost-effective resilience benefits for all water users and sectors by:
Regulating water flows
Filtering pollutants
Buffering floods
Recharging aquifers
Supporting fisheries and tourism
ESI
