Windmill used to pump water in Africa

Developing Groundwater Management In Southern Africa

ICLEI Africa’s Acting Water Programme Manager, Ms Suzan Takalani, attended a workshop focusing on groundwater in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The workshop was held from 18 – 19 November 2008 in Gaborone, Botswana. A total of 45 participants attended with backgrounds in different areas of water resources, from Africa and beyond.

Groundwater in Africa, a misunderstood resource

Groundwater is a hidden and the least understood components of water resources overall, but it has a strategic role to play in poverty alleviation and socio-economic development on the African continent. Over 70% of Africa's population relies on groundwater as a primary source of water.

As with major donors, such as the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, SADC and the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW) realise the importance of groundwater and its management.

Purpose of the workshop

The “Groundwater in SADC IWRM Initiative” workshop sought to develop a groundwater program from for SADC. This would be integrated into the region's Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) initiative. 

The participants assessed groundwater issues for the development of Southern Africa and actions to replicate this initiative in other regional economic communities, countries and organizations.

Challenges facing groundwater management in the SADC region

• Lack of information and data: surface water resources are generally well characterized in the region; however there is no of basic information for groundwater resources
• Limited capacity at all technical levels i.e. government, private sector, graduates, technicians and drillers
• Poor appreciation of the transboundary role of groundwater, and little understanding of the transboundary nature of aquifers amongst managers and communities dependent on the aquifers
• Poor consideration during water resources planning and IWRM by policy makers
• At the operational level there are differences between government policies/practices and those that actually exist on the ground; disconnection between groundwater developers (NGOs/consultants) and the government; and lastly a disconnection between groundwater development and protection.

Recommendations from the workshop relevant to Local Governments

Local Governments should become involved at an early stage, even if they do not hold specific mandates for water management.  They depend on sufficient good quality water to undertake their mandated functions. Local mandates such as land-use planning, economic development and solid waste management do influence the state of water.

More information

SADC Groundwater and Drought Management Project http://www.sadc-groundwater.org