Scientific Research and Water Development in Africa Present and Future

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Scientific Research and Water Development in
AfricaPresent and Future
Kodwo Andah PhD Scientific Coordinator,
WARREDOC Water Resources Research and
Documentation Centre University for Foreigners,
Villa la Colombella, Perugia, Italy Email
kandah_at_unistrapg.it
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Water and Research
The object of study in hydroclimatic and water
sciences is not created by society but exists
according to its own laws of occurrence,
undergoing continuous transformations due to
human impact in a changing environment. The
measure of the appropriateness of knowledge or a
technology has to be evaluated on the basis of
how much knowledge and benefits could be accrued
from its application. In the field of water, the
concept of first class and second class products
cannot exist, since any intervention not
adequately designed and executed could cause
great damage.
The effectiveness of technological application in
water and disaster management must therefore be
measured by the efficiency of prediction of
occurrence and the general reduction of the
uncertainties inherent in the quantitative
perception of the hydroclimatic processes and
their ground effects
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Theory without Practice is EMPTY Practice
without Theory is BLIND
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Setting the Scene

• Introduction The state of knowledge
  development
• Building up the Knowledge Base through Research
• Perception and Prediction of Hydroclimatic
  Processes
• Untouched Research Warning Systems and
  Communicating the Message
• Water Resources Research towards Socio-Economi
• Development

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• Introduction

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Inadequate Knowledge Base
Perception of Physical Processes
Time Window
Spatial Window
Uncertainty in Prediction
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AMCOW Motto
Count Every DROP
Every DROP Counts
Let no DROP of Rain reach the Ocean without
being Useful to Humankind
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The Dynamics of Water Resources Development

• Single Purpose
• Demand Driven
• Technology Availability
• Min. Construction Cost

• Multi-Purpose
• Composite Demand Driven
• Structural and Functional
• Minimum Cost

• Water Resource Sys.
• Balance between Demand and Resource
• Max. Net Benefit based on Econ. Efficiency
• River Basin as Res.

Water, Environment and Ecosystem Conservation
Integrated Water Resources Management (Dublin
Principles (1992)
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Freshwater Resources in Africa
Rainfall distribution in Africa is very uneven
both in time and space with marked seasonality
which is generally controlled by the movements of
the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) that
distributes atmospheric humidity, in a
diminishing manner, from the equator towards the
northern and southern fringes of the continent.
Africa seems to have a sufficient supply of
rainwater, totalling about 20211 cubic kilometres
per year but with a relatively low runoff
production of about 20 at the continental level.
The highest rainfall occurs in the island
countries (1700mm/year), the central African
countries (1430mm/year) and in the Gulf of Guinea
(1407mm/year), whilst in the northern countries
the average rainfall is only 71.4mm/year. Total
internal renewable resources of sub Saharan
African countries is about 5463 cubic kilometres
over the period 1977-2000 (FAO)
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MEETING THE BASIC NEEDS
Breaking the Chain
Water Supply In rural Africa, about 65 of the
population are without access to adequate water
supply, In urban areas, 25 are without access
to water supply.
Sanitation In rural Africa, about 73 are
without access to adequate sanitation. In urban
areas, 43 are without access to adequate
sanitation
The Burden of Water Associated Ill Health Almost
half of all Africans suffer from one of six main
water-related diseases. Out of the 46 countries
in which schistosomiasis (or bilharzia) is
endemic, 40 are in Africa. Moreover, sixteen of
nineteen countries reporting guinea worm disease
are in Africa.
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Ensuring Knowledge Base Making existing knowledge
bases relevant to Africas Water Resources
development
Sharing Water Turning Conflicts into Cooperation
Management challenges
Governing Water Wisely Establishing Institutional
and Legal Frameworks for the Regulation and
Decision making Structures
Valuing Water Reconciling economic, social and
environmental values of water as a substance, a
resouurce and services
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Hydroenergy Production in Africa
Hydroelectric capacity accounts for about 22 per
cent of the total electricity-generation capacity
in Africa Reliance on hydropower is 80 per cent
or greater in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda,
and Zambia. Hydropower reliance is greater than
70 per cent in several other African
countries. Research needs in mini hydro and in
the High Potential of the Congo Basin
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Source UNEP Vital Water Graphics, 2005
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WATER IS ESSENTIAL FOR RAPID SOCIOECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT

• EMBRACING IWRM
• Africa Water Vision Millennium Development Goals
• Engine for
• ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

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The New Thrust
Accepting the major challenge in achieving a more
visionary and integrated approach to water
resources by matching demand and supply both
temporally and spatially in both quantitative and
qualitative terms through the African Water
Vision 2025
Strategic Adoption of the Dublin Principles of
Integrated Water Water Resources Management
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Building up the Knowledge Base through Research
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The Role of Knowledge and Information in Capacity
Building in Water Sciences
   
INFORMATION PERCEPTION
AWARENESS
KNOWLEDGE SKILL
COMPETENCE
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There is the need to accelerate the development
of human and institutional capacities necessary
to assimilate the modern advances in science and
technology to confront the complex interactions
of the hydrological cycle with the societal needs
whilst conserving the environment.
Research for knowledge and for water resources
technology transfer is fundamental since it
creates the necessary tools and basis for
updating and adapting a given knowledge base and
technology to the new environment
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The Essence of Research in Water Resources
Management

• The choice of technology is a human
  responsibility which can only be dispensed in an
  enabling environment with proper knowledge and
  skills, which in turn demands a continuing
  research actions towards capacity building for
  both institutional and human decision making
  capabilities

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Physical Aspects of Water - Multidisciplinary

• HYDROLOGY
• hydrometeorology
• hydrogeology
• agricultural hydrology
• Hydrobiology
• Hydrochemistry
• forest hydrology
• hydrochemistry
• Hydrosociology and
• the emerging ecohydrology

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Water Resources Systems - Multiobjective

• Water Uses
• Domestic Water Supply
• Htdroenergy
• Agricultural Water Use
• Hydropower
• Industrial water Supply
• Navigation
• Recreation etc.

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BACK-UP ACTIVITIES

• The formation of an African Water Resources
  Association
• The creation of a journal dedicated to water
  resources issues in Africa
• African Water Development Report
• Institutionalisation of an Africa Water Prize

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A NETWORK OF WATER RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS IN
AFRICA

• Academic Institutions Faculties and Departments
  of universities
• Research institutions
• Hydrological and Meteorological Services
• Water Service Providers
• Water Authorities and within Sector Ministries

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ENABLING FRAMEWORK

• African Union
• NEPAD
• AMCOW
• African Water Facility
• Harnessing of Facilities and Available
  Resources for Establishing Joint Research
  Partnerships

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• Thematic and research oriented networking
  needs sustainable funding but when well executed
  could lead to the emergence of centres of
  excellence

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National and institutional capacities are needed
for adequate and appropriate approaches to
integrated water resources management in a
holistic manner, which should include the general
capacity for creating knowledge and information
bases through research and development in order
to guarantee adequate and timely skills and
competence necessary for

• Continuous data collection activities on the
  components of the hydrological cycle and
  environment dynamics, and modern database
  management system for archiving, control and
  retrieval of the data,
• Vulnerability assessment for territorial planning
  and urbanization
• Monitoring of environmental changes and
  degradation, desertification processes, and
  hydrological disasters like floods and droughts,
  taking into consideration the ongoing predictions
  on climate change,
• Development and diffusion of knowledge bases
  commensurate with the growing demands on water
  and the advances in science and technology,
• Development and adaptation of new technologies
  into local conditions,
• The creation of modern information communication
  system, capable of interacting at all levels of
  decision making and enhancing the growing role of
  the public in water resources management and
  decision making processes.

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Technology Transfer to Africa therefore boils
down to the transfer of knowledge and information
bases which are largely available in the
developed countries
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PERCEPTION AND PREDICTION OF HYDROCLIMATIC
PROCESSES AND EXTREMES
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• Effective Water Resources Management is all about
  management of Extremes
• And requires
• Knowledge to harness extra waters during floods
  to cover the deficits during Droughts

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• Managing Risks due to hydroclimatic extreme
  events for sustainable development should
  therefore entail incorporating the prediction of
  anomalous climate variability into the general
  socioeconomic development process

Within a given physical milieu the climate,
geology, and the socio-economic entity interact
to determine the susceptibility of the territory
to natural disasters.
The livelihoods of millions of Ecosystem people
of African Countries are critically dependent on
a highly variable climate and , it is therefore
essential that climate variability and associated
risks are managed intelligently, as an integral
part of the development process
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Our inability to have accurate and timely
predictions of extreme hazards leads to RISKS
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Hydroclimatic Hazards
HYDROCLIMATIC EXTREME EVENTS

• HYDROLOGICAL
• Floods
• Event Specific
• Persistent and pervasive

• HYDROCLIMATIC
• Droughts
• Non Event slow Process
• impact vulnerabilities

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State of the Art
PREDICTION AND FORECASTING
FLOODS
DROUGHTS

• Hydrological
• Frequency Analysis of Streamflow and Rainfall
• Flow Modelling
• Hydrometric Levels
• Flood Routing

• Drought Indices
• Palmer Drought Severity
• Index (PDSI)
• Standardized
• Precipitation Index (SPI)
• NOAA Drought Index)
• Better System Specific

• Flash Floods
• meteorological watch and real time flood
  forecasting
• Coupling QPF with discharge predictions

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THE CHALLENGE
To fuse early warning of both short-lived natural
disasters and long-term hazards associated with
environmental change, improved preparedness,
adaptation, mitigation of their adverse effects
and the integration of disaster management into
the framework of Integrated Water Resources
Management (IWRM) towards an overall
socio-economic development planning at all levels
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UNTOUCHED RESEARCH Warning Knowledge and
Communicating the Message
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Early Warning Knowledge Sources
EARLY WARNING APPROACHES
TRADITIONAL Based on Indigenous Knowledge
CONVENTIONAL Based on scientific and Technical
analysis

• INDICATORS
• Animal behaviour
• Vegetation Characteristics
• Nutritional characteristics
• Observation of stars and
• Weather and climate
• behaviours

• KEY PROCESSES
• Collection of data and information on the
• occurrence and impacts of the hazards and
• vulnerability
• Processing and analyzing the data to
• generate early warning information
• Dissemination of decision-making
• information to users
• Guiding timely and effective response to the
• warnings issued

Masters Course on Disaster Management, Sri Lanka
Polytechnic University of Ancona
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Response to Warning Interdisciplinary Research

• Warning Response depends on
• Risk perception
• Frequency of Disasters
• Forecasting Accuracy
• Quality of Warning Message

• Uncertainties inherent in predictive tools could
  play a dual role in warning response, as regards
  decision makers and the community at large
• A correct prediction could lead to rational risk
  assessment and stockpile of knowledge creating
  the conditions for a permanent alertness and an
  operative emergency preparedness. It also lays
  the foundation for hazard resistant design of
  socio-economic infrastructure and safe housing.
• False alarms could create a situation of either
  over perception (excessive panic) or under
  perception (apathy) on the general populace.
• Both situations have effect on the realization of
  warning response and on disaster survival.

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Scientific Communication and Mass Media
Uncertainties
Uncertainties of
Uncertainties
Perception
of Understanding
of Prediction
and Response
and Actions
Public
Public
Official Channels
Scientific
Scientific
Authorities
Users
Communication
Predictions
Mass Media
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vicious cycle of uncertainties
Uncertainties inherent in disaster prediction
The uncertainties inherent in the prediction of
extreme events and the system of information flow
should in particular seek to avoid the 'WOLF'
phenomenon.
Uncertainties of understanding on the part of the
authorities interpretation by the responsible
authorities could imply an excessive or too
moderate evaluation of the real risks
Uncertainties in the opportunities authorities
tend to overestimate political, sociological and
economic situations. Political risk due to
consequence of alarms not realised
Uncertainties of understanding and reactions of
user communities People will behave as a
consequence to what they will believe to have
understood through past experiences. A
non-verified prediction could lead to an
underestimation of a new prediction, while a
verified prediction could lead to an
overestimation of a new one due to past memory
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The media and the scientific community The two
worlds involved
The world of mass communication and the world of
science are two different social worlds. The
members of these worlds have different values and
beliefs. This makes interaction between
journalists and scientists difficult.
The result is poor information flow between them,
especially from the latter to the former.
that a sociology of knowledge approach should be
interested not only with the social basis of
intellectual productions, but also the social
consequences of knowledge
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RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES
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Large Scale Atmospheric Teleconnections in
Perspective
Continuous monitoring of Sea surface temperature
changes of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans washing
the coasts of Africa, with reference to those of
the mid Pacific Ocean triggering El Nino/La Nina
events and use of their prediction and forecasting
More profound and operational analysis on spatial
coherence of rainfall anomalies over Africa and
inter hemispheric teleconnections with similar
events over other areas of the sub region
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Prognostic Potentials of Climate Teleconnections
ENSO
ITCZ
SSTs
In the case of El Nino, the South East Asian sub
region has less rainfall and is warmer than
normal, whilst in the case of La Nina condition,
there is more rainfall and it is cooler than
normal. El Nino/La Nina events commence 8-10
months prior to changes in the Atlantic and
Indian Oceans, this can provide some long-range
forecasting lead time
Inter hemispheral Teleconnections of Rainfall
anomalies can provide about 6 months lead time
SST variations of the Indian ocean can provide
about 4 -6 months lead time
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Climate Change and HydroClimatic Processes

• From hydrological perspective
• a climate change would constitute a permanent
  shift in the pattern and magnitude of the
  hydrological cycle.
• increase in the frequency and magnitude of
  precipitation anomalies and an increase in the
  evaporation losses due to the global warming
  process
• hydrological response of drainage basin
  processes like erosion, sediment transport and
  streamflow would undergo a complete modification
• In socio-economic terms, a climate change
  signifies
• a drastic modification in the planning, design,
  operation and management of water resources
  systems
• Expected diminution of global moisture would
  reduce the production capacities of hydropower
  installations, water supply and irrigation
  systems.
• Higher flood peaks would change the operational
  regime of hydraulic structures designed with
  assigned T-flood, render flood protection
  structures ineffective
• Increase in evapotranspiration and persistent
  droughts would reduce reservoir yields, increase
  the drying effects of crops and vegetation and
  accelerate soil crusting and desertification
  processes.

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Transboundary Water Management Experience of
International River and Lake Commissions

• Changing the Paradigm of Transboundary Water
  Management.
• Shifting to Integrated Water Resources Management
  
• Sharing Benefits Rather than Sharing Water
• Promoting Efficient Water Use

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Research Elements in IBWT

• IBWT proposals therefore call for a very
  comprehensive Resource and Demand Study of the
  Congo basin in view of the very low level of
  water resources development in order to estimate
  the long term surplus that could be sustainably
  transferred to other sub regions and basins.

The planning be carried out within a framework of
integrated water resources management and
regional economic development with the benefit
equitably shared by first of all, the riparian
nations of the basin due to all the positive
consequences of increasing the resilience of the
water system and decreasing the risk of water
shortages through the regulation of the
watershed, and the satisfaction of demands, as
well as the extraordinary possibilities afforded
by the river of a number of major hydroelectric
projects, which could supply energy not only to
these but to other nations around them and
furthermore offer much needed socioeconomic
contacts between neighbouring populations through
navigable canals
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Major Variables to be included in analytical
Appraisal of IBWT
Physical System Water Quantity level
discharge velocity groundwater losses. Water
Quality sediments nutrients turbidity
salinity and alkalinity temperature effects
toxic chemicals. Land Implications erosion
sedimentation salinity alkalinity
waterlogging changes in land use patterns
changes in mineral and nutrient contents of soil
earthquake inducement other hydrogeological
factors. Atmosphere temperature
evapotranspiration changes in microclimate
changes in macroclimate.
Human System Production agriculture
aquaculture hydropower transportation
(navigation) manufacturing recreation
mining.Socio-cultural social costs, including
resettlement of people infrastructural
developments anthropological effects political
implications.
Biological System Aquatic benthos aufwuchs
zooplankton phytoplankton fish and aquatic
vertebrates plants disease vectors. Land-based
animals vegetation loss of habitat
enhancement of habitat.
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Total Participation in all Courses

• 224 participants from 37 African Countries
• Angola, Benin, Cameroun, Central African
  Republic, Chad, Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia,
  Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho,
  Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco,
  Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger,
  Nigeria, Sao Tomè e Principe, Senegal, Sierra
  Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania,
  Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe
• 100 participants from 17 countries of Asia
• China, Filippine, Giordania, India, Indonesia,
  Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mianmar, Nepal,
  Pakistan, Syria, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey,
  Vietnam and Yemen.
• 14 participants from 8 Latin American Countries
• Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
  Jamaica, Guatemala, Honduras e Venezuela.
• 8 European participants from 3 countries
• Albania, Malta and ex-Yugoslavia.

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Case Studies An Attempt at Research
The role of research in knowledge acquisition and
technology transfer is fundamental since it
creates the necessary tools and basis for
updating and adapting a given knowledge base and
technology to to specific objectives and local
conditions and hence facilitating their
application by users, in our case by water
resources institutions.

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The Research Culture

• Enabling Environment General Education,
  Infrastructure of Science and Technology
• Science Culture Tunis Declraration of African
  Academy of Sciences - When there is a culture of
  science, scientists are ready to learn from the
  wider culture and the wider culture learns to be
  science-friendly in its scale of priorities.
• Capacity Building Human and Institutional
  Capabilities.

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Finally!!! the challenge facing Research

• Our ability to cope with Climate Variability of
  TODAY
• Will guarantee our Sustainable Development
  process and increase our ability to cope with
  Climate Change of TOMORROW
• THANK YOU ALL