As many of Africa's groundwater resources are stored in approximately 40 transboundary aquifer systems, cross-boundary coordination will become imperative if this potential is to be developed. A research and consultancy project has investigated the stages of cooperation on Africa's transboundary aquifer systems and considered whether national utilisation patterns are already causing negative transboundary impacts on riparian states. While most overuse and negative effects have so far been contained at local level, development plans are potential threats. The research project assumed that the identification of typical riparian constellations based on hydrogeological, geopolitical, social and economic features could contribute to an understanding of the transboundary implications of national usage and thus of the basis on which to develop management. The typology developed by Eckstein & Eckstein was used and refined for the analysis. However, it seems that transboundary aquifer systems defy simplification and do not allow typical riparian constellations to be identified. Owing to the major uncertainties encountered, it is not trivial to state that improving the knowledge base for management is of the utmost importance.Key words transboundary aquifers; stages of utilisation and cooperation; transboundary impacts; typology of riparian constellations; joint management; transboundary water sharing
Coopération autour des aquifères transfrontaliers d'Afrique-idées conceptuellesRésumé Dès lors qu'une grande partie des ressources Africaines en eau souterraine est contenue dans une quarantaine de systèmes aquifères transfrontaliers, la coordination transfrontalière va revêtir un caractère impératif si ce potentiel est amené à être développé. Un projet de recherche et de consultation a examiné les stades de coopération autour des systèmes aquifères transfrontaliers en Afrique et a étudié si les tendances nationales en matière d'exploitation de ces systèmes exerçaient déjà des impacts transfrontaliers négatifs sur les états riverains. Tandis que les surexploitations et les effets négatifs ont jusqu'à présent été maîtrisés au niveau local, les plans de développement constituent des menaces potentielles. Le projet de recherche présupposait que l'identification des constellations riveraines typiques fondée sur des caractéristiques hydrogéologiques, géopolitiques, sociales et économiques pouvait permettre de mieux comprendre les implications transfrontalières d'une exploitation nationale, et par là-même de définir la base sur laquelle développer la politique de gestion. La typologie élaborée par Eckstein & Eckstein a été utilisée et peaufinée en vue de l'analyse. Il semble cependant que les systèmes aquifères transfrontaliers défient les simplifications et ne permettent pas d'identifier les constellations riveraines typiques. En raison des fortes incertitudes rencontrées, il n'est pas trivial de souligner que l'amélioration de la base de connaissances est cruciale pour l'aide à la gestion.
Abstract. Drainage needs to reclaim its rightful position as an indispensable element in the integrated management of land and water. An integrated approach to drainage can be developed by means of systematic mapping of the functions of natural resources systems (goods and services) and the values attributed to these functions by people. This mapping allows the exploration of the implications of particular drainage interventions. In that sense an analytical tool for understanding a drainage situation is proposed. The process dimension of the functions and values evaluation and assessment is participatory planning, modelled on co-management approaches to natural resources management. This provides a framework for discussion and negotiation of trade-offs related to the different functions and values related to drainage. In that sense the approach is a communication, planning and decision-making tool. The tool is called DRAINFRAME, which stands for Drainage Integrated Analytical Framework. The implementation of an integrated approach posits challenges for the governance, management and finance of drainage, as well as for research and design of drainage infrastructure and operation. Both have to be rethought from the perspective of multi-functionality. The paper concludes with five main policy messages.
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