WORKSHOP REPORT CLIMATE CHANGE AND TRANSBOUNDARY WATER RESOURCES CONFLICTS IN AFRICA: LEGAL, POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES

The document details a 2009 workshop organized by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) focusing on the intersection of climate change and transboundary water conflicts in Africa, with a heavy emphasis on the Nile River Basin. It examines how environmental degradation, population growth, and uneven water distribution exacerbate tensions between riparian states. The report highlights the role of regional bodies like the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), IGAD, and ECOWAS, and argues that while climate change acts as a 'threat multiplier,' it can also serve as an incentive for regional cooperation. Key recommendations include the ratification of the UN Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses, the establishment of joint management frameworks, and the integration of climate adaptation into national planning and donor programs.

• The Nile River Basin lacks a comprehensive agreement among its 10 riparian states, as existing treaties from 1929 and 1959 exclusively benefit downstream states Sudan and Egypt, creating obstacles to joint projects and investments.
• Climate change is identified as a 'threat multiplier' that compounds existing pressures on land, energy, food, and water, increasing the risk of armed conflict within states, although it generally has not led to violence between states.
• In Kenya, climate change effects are worsened by population growth, leading to human encroachment on fragile water catchment areas for firewood, arable land, and logging, as well as pollution from raw sewers and industrial effluents.
• Research on pastoral conflicts in Africa suggests that violence does not increase during times of resource scarcity; instead, herders often cooperate during droughts to share water, with more killings occurring in wet years than in dry years.
• The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is the only inclusive cooperation framework for the Nile, but its progress is hindered by disputes over the Cooperative Framework Agreement, specifically regarding the 'Historical Rights' claimed by downstream states.
• The Gibe I, II, and III hydropower projects in Ethiopia present potential risks to Lake Turkana's biodiversity if water use shifts from hydropower to other purposes, necessitating a joint management framework between Ethiopia and Kenya.
• Climate change impacts in East Africa's coastal zones include shoreline erosion and flooding, specifically noted in Malindi, Kenya, and Dar-es Salaam, Tanzania.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (2009). WORKSHOP REPORT CLIMATE CHANGE AND TRANSBOUNDARY WATER RESOURCES CONFLICTS IN AFRICA: LEGAL, POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/29SEP09REPORT.PDF

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. WORKSHOP REPORT CLIMATE CHANGE AND TRANSBOUNDARY WATER RESOURCES CONFLICTS IN AFRICA: LEGAL, POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES. 2009. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/29SEP09REPORT.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=WORKSHOP REPORT CLIMATE CHANGE AND TRANSBOUNDARY WATER RESOURCES CONFLICTS IN AFRICA: LEGAL, POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES |date=2009 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/29SEP09REPORT.PDF |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudies2009workshop, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{WORKSHOP REPORT CLIMATE CHANGE AND TRANSBOUNDARY WATER RESOURCES CONFLICTS IN AFRICA: LEGAL, POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2009}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/29SEP09REPORT.PDF}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }