In a landmark move aimed at preventing future water-related conflicts and strengthening regional integration, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Mano River Union (MRU) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on Tuesday sealed a historic agreement to jointly manage shared river basins across the Mano River sub-region. The agreement…
A fuel nozzle is inserted into a combustion engine at a petrol pump at a filling station during a refueling process. Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images The European Union on Tuesday is expected to water down its effective ban on sales of new combustion-engine cars from 2035, after lobbying efforts from Germany,…
In Lagos, a maize seller recently doubled her prices within a single year. In Morocco, pipelines stretch across barren plains, carrying desalinated water to farms that once relied on rainfall. Across much of the continent, the pattern is unmistakable: in the regions most exposed to climate shocks, the future of food security is becoming increasingly…
Pressure on freshwater resources is growing as demand increases in regions marked by scarcity, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a report published on Friday. It provides an update on renewable water availability, which refers to the amount of freshwater that is replenished each year in rivers and aquifers through precipitation. Renewable…
South Africa faces serious water, energy and food problems. Drought, overuse and ageing infrastructure strain water supplies. Coal-fired electricity is not sustainable in the long term and causes high greenhouse gas emissions. Tens of millions of people can’t afford enough food because of rising prices. These crises are interconnected: water is needed to grow food…
STORY HIGHLIGHTS The Holhol Dam has been rehabilitated under the World Bank-supported Somalia Water for Rural Resilience Project (Barwaaqo) to support over 6,000 people and thousands of livestock. The upgraded dam now holds up to 70,000 cubic meters of water and serves surrounding villages such as Asha-ado, Abuqeys, and Sogsogley. The rehabilitation of five water…
Water is often taken for granted, if you’re lucky enough to have it coming out of taps. Yet it lies at the heart of national security. Controlling water means having control over a key resource that keeps an economy running and stable. Water supports jobs, businesses and livelihoods. When it is managed well, countries’ economies…
The Ministry of Water and Sanitation has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating equitable and sustainable access to water and sanitation services across South Africa. The commitment was made at the Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions of South Africa (AWSISA) Africa and Global South Water and Sanitation Dialogue, which is currently underway at Emperors Palace,…
As Africa faces the escalating challenges of droughts, floods, and water insecurity, ministers and leaders from across the continent are coming together in preparation for the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting (SMM), scheduled for October 22-23 in Madrid, Spain. This crucial summit is co-convened by the Government of Spain, UNICEF, and the Sanitation and Water for…
Water scarcity in Africa is a crisis, and the GERD conflict shows why mutually beneficial cooperation agreements are vital. Ethiopia officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile river in the week of September when the country hosted the second African Climate Summit. The occasion was one of great celebration, national…
