- 75-250 millions of people in Africa would be exposed to an increment of water stress due to climate change by 2020
- 480 millions of people in Africa will face either water scarcity or stress.
- Rwanda and Burundi under pressure of water scarcity and water stress in the region
The world is facing consequences relating to climate change which are costing lives of human beings and destruction of infrastructures around the world. While floods are undermining different parts of the world, Rwanda is one of many of other countries that are facing the same challenge.
In many other countries Water resources are golden resources, while in some other water are among disasters that cost lives of the population. As the world is facing such challenge the community should think of possible adaptation by Improving the way it uses and manages water resources.
The way countries uses water today defines clearly how much they make it easier to address the challenges of tomorrow as far as water stress and scarcity problems are concerned.
Experts warn of water stress in coming years if nothing is done to well manage water resources among different countries. This often requires the trans-boundary cooperation, establishment national policies that are adequate to remedy to this problem caused by Climate change.
To this extent, they [experts] warn of 75-250 million people in Africa would be exposed to an increase of water stress due to climate change by 2020 while by 2025 around 480 million of people in Africa will face either water scarcity or stress.
Rwanda and Burundi, who share Akagera Basin, are among countries alarmed to take care of that pressure of water stress which would be increased until 2050 according to the Global Environment outlook report released by UNECA and other partners in 2000.
These are some of results of Climate change; and adaptation measures must be taken by different actors to favor the goodness of the betterment of lives of people.
Different cases are noticed in Rwanda where floods are costing lives of people and destruction of infrastructures. The Rwanda National adaptation plan for action – NAPA released in 2006 had revealed that climate change risks would result in the cost of the seed losses, labor losses, and fertilizer loses due to more floods and landslides.
The same report warned of negative effects on the ecosystems such as soil humidity, water resources, pastures, timber, means and modes of existence etc.
Floods that are challenging in Rwanda do not render lives cost only, but also erosion and soil infertility of Rwanda. This calls environment protection and and best practices for water harvesting either for water catchments or roof water harvesting.
Late in 2012 Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) have released statistics showing the reduction of rain days but the rest is characterized by the high rainfall.
The Ministry of natural resources in Rwanda report of 2011 highlighted that due to Climate change, risks could result in annual economic costs of just less than 1% GDP by 2030. This calls for adaptation measures.
Why water resources management is a shared burden for all?
Even though millions of Africans including Rwanda and Burundi in this Great lakes region are concerned by water stress and scarcity in coming years, it does not mean single country is concerned by related consequences of water resources mismanagement.
The government alone can’t deliver this if stakeholders and partners do not take floor to prevent, mitigate and adapt to climate change risks. Currently Rwanda is one of African countries selected to host the implementation of Water, Climate and development program known as WACDEP.
This program conceived by African ministers of Water (AMCOW) is being implemented by Global water Partnership (GWP) where in the eastern African region it is implemented at trans-boundary level (between Rwanda and Burundi).
At Rwanda side, it is implemented in Bugesera where different projects with the intention of addressing water security and climate resilience. Those demonstration projects include water supply, construction of Biogas digests protection of the buffer zone helping the local community to be aware of water security and its management together with climate change adaption are ongoing.
The goal of global Water Partnership Eastern Africa is to support sustainable development and management of Water resources at all levels in the Eastern Africa region.
The WACDEP also supports government institutions to enhance technical, analytical and institutional capacity development for climate resilient among government’s staff involved in the planning and policy formulation.
The environment of water security initiatives by stakeholders is favored by the political will of the government of Rwanda to integrate IWRM in policy planning by establishing relative such as water policy, environment policy, water use permit and so forth.
Nile basin Initiative (NBI) which operates in nine African countries including Rwanda and Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), are some of stakeholders that GWP Eastern Africa is cooperating with to make sure its vision is achieved.
The action of Global water partnership and its program WACDEP and such kind of synergy towards water security, is a tangible facts that would testify the success if all water stakeholders take part.
Refreshing on that water is source of life, everyone not limited to government and stakeholders should be involved in integrated water resources management and be determined to turn Rwanda into a water secure country.
Niyigaba Fidele
Communication officer / WACDEP Rwanda
