Transboundary Aquifers in IGAD Region

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Resource ID

cbb36f82-2eeb-11eb-b429-02d5b8a24ad6

Date

Nov. 25, 2020, 7 a.m., Publication

Abstract

The IGAD region is prone to recurrent droughts and dry spells and is one of the most vulnerable regions on the African continent to climatic variations. The region is affected by a high degree of variability in rainfall patterns, and most likely will increasingly suffer the adverse impacts of climate change. Water resources are scarce across the IGAD region, particularly in Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, and Somalia, where water consumption is less than 1000 m3 per person per year or less.

Edition

Version 1.0

Responsible

IGAD_SEC

Point of Contact

waruid@gmail.com

Purpose

A lack of water will significantly limit sustainable development in the IGAD region. This underscores the need for policies and programmes that will enhance the ability of the region to optimise the use of water resources for residential, agricultural, and industrial uses. This task is ever more urgent given the continuing population growth of the region which has contributed to increasing pressure on water resources and the environment, often resulting in food insecurity, famine, and poverty, and more generally, social, economic and political tensions and disputes. The effective and sustainable management of the trans-boundary surface and ground water resources is required urgently. There are six trans-boundary basins which are of major significance to the supply of water to the populations and commercial activities of the IGAD region: (i) the dry basins (Ayesha, Danakil and Ogaden), with negligible surface water resources, but important aquifers; (ii) the semi-arid to arid basins (Gash-Baraka and the Juba-Shebelle) characterised by notable irrigation developments; and (iii) Turkana-Omo basin (part of the Great Rift Valley), within which is found considerable economic activities (see Figures XX and XX). The bulk of the future water resources to meet the increasing demand will come from projects earmarked for implementation on transboundary water courses or within the trans-border water basins. The results of the IRIMP demand and gap analysis indicates that two semi-arid to arid basins (Juba-Shebelle and Gash-Barka Basin) will be seriously short of water by 2050 and others will become increasingly stressed. Managing these basins effectively is of great importance <a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a> IGAD Member States are faced with a lack of transboundary water resources, and inadequate strategies and institutional frameworks necessary to effectively manage these depleted resources. This has hindered economic development and calls for concerted inter-State cooperation creating and implementing transboundary water basin legal and regulatory frameworks. Furthermore, although national policies have been enacted related to biodiversity, environmental and water resources protection, many are not implemented or poorly enforced. There is need for coordination amongst IGAD member states to ensure member states are committed to implementing relevant national and inter-State policies. More specifically accelerated technological transfer is required which will enhance the capacities of individuals, communities and businesses to utilise water resources in the most optimum manner by, for example, extending rain-water harvesting, and by improving agricultural practices and management, thereby reducing dependence on rain-fed agriculture, and relieving stress on the currently limited use of irrigation.   <a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> The results of this analysis are presented in Volume Two: The Evidence Base

Maintenance Frequency

unknown

Type

vector

Restrictions

exclusive right to the publication, production, or sale of the rights to a literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic work, or to the use of a commercial print or label, granted by law for a specified period of time to an author, composer, artist, distributor

No other restrictions

License

Public Domain

Language

eng

Temporal Extent

Start

Nov. 25, 2020, 10:37 a.m.

End

Nov. 25, 2020, 10:37 a.m.

Supplemental Information

• No dedicated and systematic mapping of aquifer characteristics for the whole region have been done. However, country-based studies have been targeting specific areas/aquifers with specific objectives/goals. In these studies detailed information is available on some of the aquifers e.g. yield, hydraulic properties, hydraulic conductivity, aquifer transmissivity, specific yield, storativity, groundwater level, groundwater flow and recharge, examples of these aquifers include: Kenya (Nairobi, Tiwi, Merti, Baricho), Sudan (Nubian sandstone, Gash basin ) and Ethiopia (Raya valley, Tigray highlands and Ogaden). • The aquifer characteristics of many of the aquifer are not adequately known. There is need to carry out a comprehensive assessment of these aquifers including the transboundary ones in order to build the knowledge base for better decision making. Aquifer characteristics to be considered include but not limited to, abstraction over time, recharge levels, vulnerability to pollution, vulnerability to depletion, groundwater dependent ecosystem, transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity, storage coefficient, surface area, rainfall, natural discharge, soil type and thickness, natural land cover, surface water interaction, susceptibility to irreversible degradation, groundwater user and uses, analysis of use and pollution drivers and water quality assessment.

Data Quality

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the map presentations do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the IGAD concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, area of its authorities, place names, or the delineation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Extent

x0: 19.083849436602300
x1: 45.703593546605000
y0: -5.171342909947270
y1: 24.903457896664600

Spatial Reference System Identifier

EPSG:4326

Keywords

no keywords

Category

Transportation

Regions

Africa

Resource Metadata

Transboundary Aquifers in IGAD Region