Thomson Reuters: It’s time to look underground for climate resilience in sub-Saharan Africa
- While we all know groundwater is a key water resource for farmers, small communities and larger cities alike in sub-Saharan Africa, it is largely missing from existing analysis of climate change impacts on water. Yet, Cape Town, which was greatly supported by groundwater development in its struggle to push back Day Zero when the city was projected to run out ...more
When small is beautiful – but not spectacular
- Taking stock of a widespread water intervention in Africa Woman fetching water from a small reservoir close to a pumping point. Photo: Hamish John Appleby / IWMI As African countries respond to worsening natural disasters, there is a risk that quick fixes may come at the expense of long-lasting solutions. Such appears to be the case with small reservoirs across Africa, ...more
The road to climate resilience
- It can start in any rural community Data collection from wheat fields in the Bahir Dar area near Lake Tana and the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia. Photo: Maheder Haileselassie / IWMI Rural communities across the developing world face growing pressures from climate change impacts and other problems associated with unsustainable agricultural practices, water pollution and the overuse of aquifers. These ...more
EnviroNewsNigeria.com: Why Ghanaian rural communities seldom take water for granted
- The theme for this year – “Nature for Water” – calls attention to an underappreciated solution for this growing threat. While the conventional response is to sink more money into “built” infrastructure (like dams, reservoirs and formal irrigation schemes), research in Ghana and other countries suggests that “natural” infrastructure (such as wetlands, floodplains and watersheds), when properly managed, can also ...more
AgricInGhana.com: Rural communities in northern Ghana seldom take water for granted
- World Water Day (March 22nd) is a good time for Ghanaians to reflect on the risks of degradation to which the nation’s water bodies are exposed, as agriculture, industry, towns and cities all compete for their share and pollute water in the process. The theme for this year – “Nature for Water” – calls attention to an underappreciated solution for ...more
UN Chronicle: Coming to grips with water security in the face of climate change
- In the latest issue of UN Chronicle magazine, Claudia Sadoff, IWMI's director general, examines how people in high-risk areas of Africa and Asia can come to grips with water security in the face of climate change. Collecting rainwater data on the farm. Tana River watershed, Kenya. Photo: Georgina Smith / CIAT Below is an excerpt from her article: In a landmark study ...more
Life with grandmother crocodile
- The changing benefits of ecosystem services for rural communities in northern Ghana A crocodile in the Upper East Region. Photo: Hamish John Appleby / IWMI In contrast with affluent parts of the world, people living along the White Volta River in northern Ghana seldom take water for granted. Its seasonal flows shape their livelihoods, and their keen appreciation of water-dependent ecosystems ...more
Anatomy of an irrigation scheme
- The search for better ways to connect smallholder farmers, government and agribusiness A farmer in the Ikageng women’s garden, Strydkraal, Flag Boshielo irrigation scheme, South Africa. Photo: Pinnie Sithole Mounting evidence leaves little doubt about the enormous need and potential for investment in irrigated small-scale farming across sub-Saharan Africa. Not so clear is what mode of farming is most apt for ...more
Water for Food International Forum
- Creating fertile ground for innovation in agricultural water management Photo: IWMI Smallholder farmers across the developing world are eager to seize the diverse advantages that improved water management practices can offer. Farm households that have access to irrigation generally fare better in terms of food security and dietary diversity than those that do not. Moreover, irrigation opens up new options for ...more
World Food Day 2017
- Tackling the root causes of migration in the places left behind Claudia W. Sadoff has taken up her new post as director general at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), following her appointment in May by decision of the Institute’s Board of Governors. On the occasion of this year’s World Food Day, she has contributed an opinion article to Euractiv, which is ...more
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