Integrated governance a priority to address Africa's water crisis

OVER the past few months, the City of Johannesburg has faced challenges concerning water delivery to its citizens.

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While this can be looked at as an isolated issue, water delivery has been a major sticking point not only for Johannesburg but for the country and the African continent at large.

It has been widely stated that South Africa is water-scarce, which has strained water delivery in various ways. According to the Department of Water & Sanitation (DWS), South Africa receives an average rainfall of 500mm compared to the global average of 860mm. With the advent of climate change, rainfall patterns have been significantly affected, further compounding the challenges.

The African continent has generally seen its water resources depleted due to climate-induced crises, which have had a rippling effect on livelihoods, as the majority of citizens rely on agriculture.

These water crises across the African continent indicate that an integrated approach is essential for water governance. Until recently, water governance was viewed as being dominated solely by scientists and engineers; however, over time, the space opened up to other actors, such as policy analysts and technocrats.

One pivotal shift was the Dublin Statement on Water and Sustainable Development, where water experts met on January 31, 1992, to chart a way forward regarding the challenges associated with this resource. The International Conference on Water and the Environment (ICWE) would be a crucial step in tackling water challenges, and it would become increasingly relevant for the African continent.

An important aspect of the ICWE was the introduction of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). This rests on three principles: social equity, economic efficiency, and ecological sustainability.