Advancing Africa's water security through collaboration

THE University of Zululand and Chang'an University had the privilege of hosting the 2025 International Conference on Water Security and Sustainable Development.

- PROFESSOR SIPHO SEEPE

The three-day prestigious conference from May 23-25 brought together leading scientists, policymakers, industry experts and stakeholders from around the world to address one of the most pressing challenges of water security. According to the UN, over 2 billion people live in water-stressed countries.

The effects of climate change have led to a reduction in freshwater availability and climate-induced variability, resulting in an increase in drought in some regions and floods in others. The diverse participant base underscores a global commitment to advancing scientific understanding to formulate practical solutions.

This much was evident from an array of topics that were covered. These ranged from presentations on geothermal systems, climate change impacts, groundwater quality, depletion and sustainability to antibiotic resistance in mining-affected waters.

The conference also touched on agricultural water management and general water resource management. To this end, the conference provided “a vital platform for sharing cutting-edge research, innovative solutions, and collaborative strategies to enhance water security, improve governance, and promote adaptive management to promote sustainable development”.

With expertise from myriad backgrounds from every continent, the conference lived up to its sub-theme of “Collaboration Makes the World Better”. The benefits of such collaboration are multifaceted.

First, environmental challenges such as water scarcity, droughts and floods, which cut across narrow disciplines, can be resolved by instituting multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches.