African water development report

This interim report begins with an introductory section on Water for Socio-economic Development; International and African Milestones; and Freshwater Resources of Africa. This is followed by the main body, articulated along eleven key challenges, selected in consonance with the World Water Development Report (WWDR): 1. Meeting basic needs: To recognize that access to safe and sufficient water and sanitation are basic human needs and are essential to health and well-being; and to empower people, especially women, through a participatory process of water management; 2. Securing the food supply: To enhance food security, particularly of the poor and vulnerable, through more efficient mobilisation and use of water and more equitable allocation of water for food production; 3. Protecting ecosystems: To ensure the integrity of ecosystems through sustainable water resources management; 4. Sharing water resources: To promote peaceful cooperation and develop synergies between different uses of water at all levels, within and, in the case of boundary and transboundary water resources, between States through sustainable river basin management or other appropriate approaches; 5. Managing risks: To provide security from floods, droughts, pollution and other water-related hazards; 6. Valuing water: To manage water in a way that reflects its economic, social, environmental and cultural values for all its uses, and to move towards pricing of water services to reflect the cost of their provision, taking into consideration the basic needs of the poor and the vulnerable; 7. Governing water wisely: To ensure good governance so that the involvement of the public and the interests of all stakeholders are included in the management of water resources; 8. Water and cities: Covering issues of urban areas and human settlements and their specific challenges to water management; 9. Water and
industry: To focus on industry needs and the responsibility to respect water quality and take account of the needs of competing sectors; 10. Water and energy: To recognize that water is vital for all forms of energy production and ensure that energy requirements are met in a sustainable manner; and 11. Ensuring the knowledge base: To recognize that good water policies and management depend upon the quality of knowledge available to decision-makers. welcome your feedback and input to guide future editions.