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

Capacity Building in AfricaFrom the analysis above, it becomes clear thatwater resources technology transfer and capacitybuilding are two indispensable activities, but thetwo inseparable sides of the same coin, necessaryfor sustainable water resources developmentand management. In the developed countries,these two processes are taken for granted dueto the availability of appropriate infrastructure,adequate scientific knowledge bases compatiblewith technological levels and proper mechanismsfor information dissemination and exchange. InAfrican countries, however, there is the need forconscious and systematic efforts to create anddevelop such conditions which are necessary forthe transfer, adaptation and assimilation of newtechnologies into their socio-economic environments.The capability of a country, a region ora water sector to exploit a particular technologyis therefore determined by its overall legislativestructures, technological level and scientific andtechnical know-how.Capacity building should therefore encompassthe human, scientific, technological, organizational,institutional and resource capabilities ofa region, a country or a water sector to receive,update and create knowledge necessary to keeppace with the ever-increasing water developmentand management needs, including the presentpressures for sustainable development. It is onlywhen an enabling environment is guaranteedwithin the society that the human and institutionalcapacity building would be effective in enhancingthe skills and competences needed forintegrated water resources management. The capacitybuilding process therefore should consistof the following:(a) Creation of an environment with appropriatepolicy and legal frameworks;(b) Institutional development, including communityparticipation;(c) Human resources development andstrengthening of managerial systems;(d) Sustainable funding.Enabling EnvironmentIn order to achieve the institutional and humancapabilities necessary for integrated water resourcesmanagement there is the need to createan enabling environment within which waterrelatedinstitutions, professions and the public atlarge would operate in an interactive manner andin harmony. It is clear from the experiences of thedeveloped world that the enabling environmentis the total capacity of a given society to absorband assimilate knowledge and technology for thebetterment of its citizens through adequate andeffective legal, administrative and financial institutionalset-ups.The experiences of modern Japan and the rapidindustrializing Asian countries like South Korea,Taiwan and Singapore indicate that an effectivelong-term strategic planning is indispensable,and this in turn requires diverse efforts including:(a) Raising the level of schooling of the generalpublic (figs. 16.2-3);(b) Increasing the proportion of the populationwith higher education;(c) Raising the proportion of scientists and engineers;(d) Emphasizing research and development;(e) Creating an environment which encouragesresearch and development in the operationaland private sectors;(f ) Strengthening state-university-industrycollaborative efforts; and(g) Creating an enabling environment and incentivesfor professional practice.ENSURING THE KNOWLEDGE BASE311