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

African Water Development Report 2006tion with regional and international institutions;(d) Participation in networking mechanisms;(e) Commitment to and participation in internationalwater resources activities;(f ) Development and divulgation of publicawareness programmes; and(g) Sustainable funding of water resources activitiesManpower Needs and SkillsOne of the key limitations to a harmonious developmentand management of water resourcesin Africa is the lack of human and institutionalcapacity to assimilate the modern advances inscience and technology necessary to deal withthe complex interactions between the hydrologicalcycle and the societal needs, while conservingthe environment. Therefore, there is an urgentneed for human expertise and institutional capacityif this goal must be achieved. In Africa,especially sub-Saharan Africa, there is a generallack of specialists in hydrology and water resourcesplanning, systems analysis and modelling.The continent lacks an adequate number ofhighly motivated and highly skilled water professionalswho can effectively deal with the complexissues of water scarcity, climate variabilityand joint management of international waters.The main problems hindering harmonious waterresources management for sustainable developmentin Africa, as defined in the “Strategiesand Action Plan for Water Resources in Africa”(UN-ECA, 1995), include those summarized asfollows:(a) Lack of provision of adequate and accuratedata and information needed for water resourcesmanagement at the national and/orriver basin levels;(b) Continuous depreciation of water in manyAfrican countries;(c) The disastrous impact of excess water(floods), erosion and sedimentation, deteriorationof water quality and water pollutionon the sustainable development of Africa;(d) Fragmentation of water resources managementamong different sectorial interestswith weak overall coordination and qualitycontrol of data;(e) Weak cooperation arrangements betweenriparian countries of international river basins;and(f ) Limited participation of trained indigenouspersonnel in the actual decision-makingand management processes due to over-dependenceon external experts.Below is list showing the type of water resourcesconcerns identified in the Africa Water Vision asspecific key resource and demand issues whose resolutionrequires human and institutional capacities:(a) Resource Side Issues(i) Multiplicity of transboundary water basins;(ii) High spatial and temporal variability ofrainfall;(iii) Growing water scarcity;(iv) Inadequate institutional and financingarrangements;(v) Inadequate data and human capacity;(vi) Inadequate water resources development;and(vii) Depletion of water resources throughhuman actions;(b) Demand Side Issues(i) Access to safe water supply and sanitationservices;(ii) Water for food and energy security;(iii) Too much water wastage; and(iv) Threats to environmental sustainability.Apart from the lack of professionals, there is alsoa lack of technicians, in terms of numbers and ofskills, to operate and maintain instruments andother technological needs of the water sector.Furthermore, the introduction of new technologiesand the acquisition of the skills and expertisethat this requires implies financial costs that314