Research and analysis

Africa rising: Water insecurity and opportunities in Southern Africa - July 2014

Published 25 July 2014

0.1 Detail

A Water Insecure Region

Southern Africa is already water insecure. South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe in particular lack water or are highly water dependent on neighbouring countries. South Africa has already allocated 98% of its existing water resources and relies on Lesotho for much of its water security. In Namibia and Botswana, significant droughts have occurred over the last year. And in Zimbabwe the proliferation of boreholes seems to be lowering the water table, especially in Harare. Floods cause equal problems for regional agreements with detrimental impacts on downstream infrastructure and crop production.

Looking ahead, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report expects a reduction in regional water abundance though climate is not the only driver (e.g. greater draw from irrigation). The Human Dynamics of Climate Change map indicates that by the end of the century the region will face an over 20% decrease in water runoff into rivers; at least a 20% increase in drought days; and a 20% increase in demand for irrigation. All of this points to greater water insecurity for the region ahead. Government officials increasingly see the impact of climate change as a security issue.

Solutions: Regional Cooperation and Aid

Water rich countries Mozambique and DRC have substantial water resources and sizable hydropower, with neighbours in South African Development Community (SADC) increasingly reliant on them for water transfer schemes. There are fifteen shared rivers in SADC, accounting for 78% of all water resources. Continued cooperation is therefore vital.

Supporting regional cooperation has resulted in water being one of the most donor-assisted sectors in SADC. The UK is a leading water donor with DFID supporting the SADC Trans-boundary Water Management programme and also the continental Cooperation in International Waters in Africa programme which has interventions in the SADC region.

Solutions: National Responses

The impact of commercial growth on water supplies is pushing all stakeholders to use water more efficiently and curb water pollution. Opportunities are being explored in Windhoek to tap into groundwater aquifers and similar schemes are also being considered by other cities in the region. Desalination is increasingly being used in coastal areas, including in the Seychelles and Mauritius (where all coastal hotels are legally obliged to have their own desalination plant). Water management is also getting larger budget allocations in some SADC countries.

UK Commercial Expertise

Increased awareness of water insecurity provides an opportunity for the UK to present the expertise of UK companies specialised in building dams, water pipelines and feasibility studies, as well as SMEs specialised in water saving solutions. Assisting more widely with the formulation of water-saving legislation could also open the way for further UK expertise. Similarly water efficiency campaigns could target mass users such as the mining industry and tourism to take up new technology.

Specific commercial opportunities include:

• Acid mine drainage which could offer wider UK business opportunities in South Africa as part of the global mining HVO. This is subject to the Department of Water and Sanitation adopting a national strategy. However a UK company has already won significant business providing environmental services;

• Capitalising on plans to pipe water from Lesotho to Botswana, which has opened opportunities that British companies are interested in (e.g. for Environmental Impact Assessment consulting).

• Water Treatment: Two bids by a UK company are in for the construction of water treatment plants in Mauritius worth USD 92 million;

• Sharing skills in drafting a bilateral water agreement for a proposed ground water aquifer in Angola to supply Namibia by drawing from the UK’s long history of groundwater use (e.g. Lee Valley artificial groundwater scheme).

0.2 Disclaimer

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