News in 2021
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New FIG Publication on Water Governance Challenges in Africa
June 2021
Good Practice for Resilience Planning to address Water Governance
Challenges in Africa
This FIG Report, which is no 77 in the series of FIG Publications is
prepared by FIG Commission 8 - Spatial Planning and Development; Working
Group 8.5 on African Water Governance.
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The primary author of this new publication is
Professor Richard Pagett with co-authors Prof.
Isaac Boateng, Prof. Kwasi Appeaning Addo, Dr. Philip-Neri
Jayson-Quashigah, and Dr. Kofi Adu-Boahen.
In her foreword, chair of FIG Commission 8, Marije Louwsma
writes:
Water is an indispensable resource for society, yet it can
also pose threats such as floods or droughts. Water governance
seeks to enhance the equal, efficient, and effective
distribution of water resources and balances water use between
socio-economic activities and ecosystems. Political, social, and
economic arrangements can govern the process of water
management, which becomes more and more urgent given the impact
of climate change and the need for sustainable development.
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FIG Commission’s 8 Working Group 8.5 about African water governance
has delivered a report addressing the challenges of water governance in
urbanised areas in Africa. Lack of water is impacting the ecology,
agriculture, and the general economy of most African nations. In
addition, poor water governance results in inequitable access to
freshwater and unsustainable water usage in many parts of Africa.
It is the purpose of FIG and its Commission 8 to assist the surveying
profession in all aspects of spatial planning and development. This
report considers some of the social, environmental, political and
economic context of water governance in Africa to identify the
strategies necessary in terms of resilience, in the face of climate
change, population growth and diminishing resources. Cross-cutting
socio-economic, systemic and policy challenges in water governance are
analysed and critical success factors for managing water resources in
Africa are described. In response to the expected impact of climate
change the need for strategies to enhance future resilience in water
governance is apparent.
This publication of FIG Commission 8 further contributes to seek
sustainable pathways for water governance from the broader perspective
of spatial planning. The report should help government, decision makers
and professionals in Africa and beyond to respond to the major
challenges of sustainable water governance, both qualitative and
quantitative.
FIG would like to thank the members of the working group and the
specialists who have contributed to this publication for their
constructive and helpful work.
Louise Friis-Hansen
June 2021
