African Water in context

June 2006

Participation of the Water Research Commission (WRC) in the African Water team has facilitated strong synergies between African Water and the African Ministerial Council on Science and Technology (AMCOST) and on Water (AMCOW).

Eiman Karar and Kevin Pietersen from WRC explain that the research organisation is a leading member of the AMCOST Water Task Force which is made up of representatives of the five sub-regions of Africa.

Water scarcity and related insecurity have been identified as one of the sources of the continent's under-development and increasing economic decline and, therefore, issues associated with the development, supply and management of water are high on the agenda.

Water is included in Programme Cluster 2 of the Plan of Action which consolidates the science and technology programmes of the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). The Plan of Action has been used to inform the European Commission of African water research priorities during the development of FP7. Specific water topics include:

• Scientific assessment of Africa's water resources and systems, and their improved conservation and utilisation
• Research and technologies to assess and monitor water-related disasters (e.g. floods)
• Knowledge and technologies to improve water quality and quantity, and access to affordable water
• Promoting exchange of scientific information on the causes and extent of drought and desertification in Africa.

Source: African Water Newsletter 1, June 2006