By Sharon Atieno
Ensuring water security continues to be a significant issue in the East African region, where approximately 20% of the population lacks access to clean and potable water. The recurring cycles of droughts and floods exacerbated by the climate emergency are expected to intensify this problem.
Amidst this scenario, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), an international research-for-development organization, has initiated A six-year (2024-2030) revolutionary plan To boost water security, aid in climate adaptation, and promote sustainable farming throughout the area.
"Water security involves assessing your available water quantity and ensuring it meets adequate quality standards, as well as managing risks such as droughts, floods, and extreme events so that livelihoods, lives, economies, and ecosystems can flourish concurrently," stated Mark Smith, the Director General of IMWI, during the unveiling event held alongside the CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi, Kenya.
Ensuring water security inherently involves an interconnected approach, which our strategy underscores... By achieving water security, you can instigate widespread change throughout various systems once you enhance accessibility to water and promote more sustainable and equitable distribution among differing uses.
This approach centers around three primary focus areas: reducing water-related hazards, ensuring sustainable water management, and addressing worldwide disparities.
In addressing water-related challenges, IMWI will focus on minimizing threats posed by droughts, floods, and interconnected systemic water issues, as well as decreasing carbon emissions within water infrastructure, lowering levels of water contamination, and enhancing resilience among populations impacted by instability, conflicts, and displacement. The primary objective is to lessen water hazards and guarantee that climate initiatives incorporate plans for proactively and flexibly managing present and impending shifts in water dangers.
When addressing water sustainability, the emphasis lies on enhancing food security and boosting farmers' incomes, reallocating water away from agricultural use when future needs cannot be sustained, protecting biodiversity and restoring ecosystems, as well as making informed choices about water infrastructure and distribution. The aim is to implement lasting water strategies that can handle rising and conflicting requirements for fresh water more extensively and swiftly.
When addressing worldwide disparities, the topics discussed encompass equitable access to and governance of water resources; income levels, employment opportunities, as well as water and food stability; utilization of various valuations and understandings of water along with youth leadership roles. The primary objective is to enhance gender parity, support for young people, and inclusivity so that everyone can equally reap the advantages of secure water supplies, alleviate impoverishment, and guarantee comprehensive coverage in water resource administration.
Abdulkarim H. Seid, IWMI’s Regional Representative for East Africa, emphasized the region's key focuses and explained how the strategy aims to support sustainable development goals through advanced research and collaborative efforts.
"The challenges confronting East Africa, like those faced by other regions globally, demand collaborative efforts. This strategy will direct IWMI’s activities in the area, guaranteeing that we jointly design and develop solutions alongside local communities, government bodies, educational institutions, businesses, and other vital stakeholders to establish robust and inventive water systems aimed at securing a sustainable future," Seid clarified.
IMWI's approach aligns perfectly with the updated One CGIAR Water Systems Integration Roadmap (2024-2030). This roadmap pioneers the use of collaborative efforts within CGIAR and further afield to harness scientific advancements for enhancing water security.