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African Water Development Report 2006 - United Nations Economic ...

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<strong>African</strong> <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Development</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2006</strong>In water resources terms, a climate change signifiesa drastic modification in the planning, design,operation and management of water resourcessystems to match the changes in the climaticand hydrological variables. Expected diminutionof global moisture would reduce the productioncapacities of hydropower installations, watersupply and irrigation systems. Higher floodpeaks would change the operational regime ofhydraulic structures designed with assigned T-flood, render flood protection structures ineffectiveand consequently make vast areas vulnerableto flood hazards. On the other hand, persistentdroughts would reduce reservoir yields, increasethe drying effects of crops and vegetation andspeed up soil crusting and desertification processes.A climate change towards increased atmospherictemperatures and evaporation wouldinevitably increase the general water demand ina situation of diminishing water supply. In caseof an increase in the frequency of alternation ofpositive and negative climatic anomalies as a resultof a climate change, an increase in operationalstress of water resources systems should beexpected. Timely prediction and forecasting ofhydrological extremes are therefore essential toeffective management of water resources systemsand rational development of water resources inorder to ensure sustainable development andprotection of life and property. Institutional andhuman capacities are needed for understandingthe dynamics of climate fluxes, their regional andcontinental teleconnections and general circulationmodels. Knowledge about the impact of socio-economicactivities on land use patterns andsoil infiltration capacities is necessary for understandingand mitigating desertification processesas well as for modifying water managementpractices due to changes in surface water andgroundwater relationships (Andah, 2002a).Looking Forward<strong>Water</strong> risks, including disasters, will increase unlessand until firm and urgent actions are takento roll back effects. Even if the effects of climatechange are not drastic, the momentum of humandevelopment activities will generate increasinglyunsustainable demands on water resources.Hence, if no corrective urgent action is taken toaddress water sector risks, business as usual regardingmanagement of water resources will landAfrica into doom, as the situation is indeed dire.Meeting the main water policy and managementchallenge in Africa means addressing issuesrelating to: water management (availability,demand, distribution, access, quality, pollution),risk management (including climate change andvariability effects) and developmental resourcesincluding such aspects as level and mode of development,resources, technology, institutions,policy and planning, information, and capacity.Overcoming the challenge of achieving the Africa<strong>Water</strong> Vision requires as Vordzorgbe, S. D(2003) states: (a) improved water resources management,including investment in water storageand watershed management, (b) enhanced communityparticipation and grassroots support,(c) improved governance in water sector, (d)improved knowledge and understanding of water-relatedissues through increased informationgeneration, access, use and exchange as well asincreased participation, (e) committed financialand political resources for sustainable long-termwater development, and (f ) increased partnership,cooperation and coordination within andbetween countries.Prospects for success are mixed anduncertain due to the following:(a) Challenges in financing water developmentare high and investment funds are lacking;(b) <strong>Development</strong> of the human resource basefor water management is stagnating;(c) An increasing global, regional and nationaltrend towards establishing disaster managementcapabilities at all levels; in particular,the design of the NEPAD disaster riskmanagement strategy will provide further246

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