Cooperation on Africa's transboundary aquifers—conceptual ideas

Abstract

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.

Adaptation to climate change in international river basins in Africa: a review / Adaptation au changement climatique dans les bassins fluviaux internationaux en Afrique: une revue

“…one country's adaptation potentially causing negative impacts on another country within the basin. This could also occur in internationally shared groundwater resources, which are found in an estimated 40 transboundary aquifers in Africa (Scheumann & Alker, 2009). Scheumann & Alker (2009) examine the transboundary impacts of groundwater development in five cases of transboundary aquifers in Africa.…”

“…This could also occur in internationally shared groundwater resources, which are found in an estimated 40 transboundary aquifers in Africa (Scheumann & Alker, 2009). Scheumann & Alker (2009) examine the transboundary impacts of groundwater development in five cases of transboundary aquifers in Africa. They conclude that transboundary impacts already occur in some of the cases and could potentially increase with planned development projects.…”

“…Some provide flexibility mechanisms or transboundary institutions that could assist adaptation, whilst others have conditions that may limit adaptation (Fischhendler, 2004;Drieschova et al, 2008;Kistin & Ashton, 2008). Some river basin institutions, for example the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the Orange-Senqu River Basin Commission, have expanded their remit to include transboundary groundwater resources as well as surface water (Scheumann & Alker, 2009). In addition to treaties, there are other forms of cooperation which can add to adaptive capacity and may either be enshrined in formal agreements or occur informally.…”

“…Non-renewable groundwater resources are widely used in North Africa; for example the Great Man-Made River Project in Libya (Kundzewicz & Döll, 2009;Scheumann & Alker, 2009). Globally, there are large uncertainties in estimates of renewable groundwater resources and groundwater recharge (Kundzewicz & Döll, 2009).…”

“…This is particularly the case for Africa where monitoring networks are inadequate (Groundwater and Climate in Africa, 2008). In addition much of the groundwater resources are located in an estimated 40 aquifer systems that are shared by several countries (Scheumann & Alker, 2009). The hydrological monitoring network for surface water in Africa is more developed than that for groundwater, but has generally sparse coverage and short fragmentary records, although some reliable long records exist for parts of the Nile basin and on major rivers in West Africa (Conway et al, 2009).…”