Investing in water security for climate resilient growth and development

The document argues that climate resilience in Africa must be mainstreamed into general development planning rather than treated as a separate process. It advocates for a coordinated approach where central governments lead, regional bodies manage transboundary water resources (noting Africa's 53 shared basins), and local communities are consulted to ensure adaptation meets specific local needs. Successful implementation is seen as dependent on the active participation of non-state actors and the strengthening of institutional capacity at all levels.

• Climate resilient development in Africa requires integrating climate change into development planning across all levels of governance rather than treating it as a separate agenda with distinct budget lines.
• Central governments are positioned to lead and coordinate climate-resilient development, ensuring line ministry strategies align with national objectives and securing funding for additional resilience costs.
• Line ministries must incorporate climate resilience into policy and planning, utilizing climate screening tools and capacity building, such as appointing climate specialists, to manage risks during implementation.
• Local communities and municipal administrations bear the primary impact of climate change and must be involved through consultation and negotiation to ensure adaptation meets local needs and indigenous knowledge is integrated into higher-level strategies.
• Transboundary cooperation is essential for water security in Africa because the region has 53 shared river basins; national-level adaptation alone is insufficient due to downstream implications.
• Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and River and Lake Basin Organisations (RLBOs) are critical for managing transboundary waters, providing technical support for benefit-sharing, and facilitating negotiations between national governments.
• The actual implementation of climate-resilient development depends on non-state actors, including private businesses, civil society, and individual water users, who must be motivated through information, consultation, and financial inducements.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (n.d.). Investing in water security for climate resilient growth and development. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/WaterSecurity_Brief3_pr3.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Investing in water security for climate resilient growth and development. n.d. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/WaterSecurity_Brief3_pr3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Investing in water security for climate resilient growth and development |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/WaterSecurity_Brief3_pr3.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetworkndinvesting, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Investing in water security for climate resilient growth and development}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/WaterSecurity_Brief3_pr3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }