Lack of quality data and information for decision making in the development and management of groundwater especially in Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) borderlands in the Horn of Africa has been a major challenge. This project strives to promote sustainable groundwater use in the two borderland areas ( Suud and Gedaref) by Strengthening regional information, capacity & collaboration; Compiling knowledge of the aquifer and filling data gaps; assessing water resources and climate change impacts; preparing preliminary water infrastructure plans for development and development of Aquifer Management Plans (AMP) and Decision Support System (DSS) for each of the project areas that will form the basis for extensive cross-border developments and collaborations.
By improving the availability of relevant information, policy effectiveness, and regional collaboration, the project empowers these actors to manage resources more sustainably. Scientists, experts, and ultimately the inhabitants of the IGAD region will also indirectly benefit from increased resilience to climate shocks resulting from sustainable groundwater management
Why this Project is Needed Now?
The project is a timely intervention to strengthen the climate resilience of targeted communities in a region frequently affected by drought. By focusing on sustainable groundwater management, it aims to provide a buffer against climate shocks and improve livelihoods. The project builds on the achievements of earlier initiatives, such as the HoA-Groundwater Initiative (HoA GWI), to create a consolidated and sustainable institutional framework for managing transboundary aquifers. Phase II project will benefit from lessons learnt from the GW4R project Phase 1.
Anticipated Benefits:
The project's primary beneficiaries will be decision-makers and groundwater management professionals in regional and national institutions, who will benefit from strengthened capacity, better information, and improved policies. Indirectly, inhabitants of the IGAD region will benefit from more sustainable groundwater management and increased resilience to climate shocks. The investment is justified by its potential to promote peaceful coexistence over shared resources and enhance economic livelihoods.
Regional and Global Significance:
The project's focus on transboundary water management aligns with broader regional and global development agendas. By strengthening cooperative frameworks for a vital natural resource, it contributes to regional stability and sustainable development. The project also supports the achievement of SDGs (especially SDG 6), AU Agenda 2063, African Water Policy and Vision 2025, and IGAD and NBI goals.
Alignment with Nile Basin Investment Program:
The project should be included in the Nile River Basin Investment Program as it presents a novel approach for transboundary groundwater management that can strengthen livelihoods and climate resilience, offering a model that could be replicated and upscaled across the Nile Basin. Furthermore, it conducts pre-investment activities in key transboundary aquifers located within the Nile Basin, specifically the Sudd Aquifer (shared by Ethiopia and South Sudan) and the Gedaref Aquifer (shared by Ethiopia and Sudan), which are the focus of the current phase of the project.
The following are the projects specific objectives:
1. Establish and operationalize regional and national groundwater institutions and platforms.
2. Develop and harmonize regional data, information systems, and policy frameworks for groundwater management.
3. Enhance technical and managerial capacity of stakeholders at all levels.
4. Promote joint studies, planning, and management of transboundary aquifers.
5. Promote learning across member states and within IGAD Region.