The Challenge of Water in Africa - A Perspective
Chair:
Alan Nicol, Overseas Development Institute
Speakers:
David Grey,The World Bank, Washington, D.C
- political engagement and commitment ('political instruments') were necessary to achieve substantial change, though technical solutions could ensure gradual progress; additionally, national ownership of the process of change was very important;
- imposing statutory change on customary processes could create difficulties;
- national pricing of water was important, but ensuring safety nets for those who could not afford to pay was equally so;
- achieving a shared vision on the development of international water courses around could provide the basis for political engagement and should be established early in the process;
- riparian ownership of the processes involved and including all riparians in decision making were emphasised as was the need to deal with basin development through the principle of subsidiarity (action at the local, lowest appropriate level, meant lower transaction costs);
- action on the ground, moving quickly to deliver results was also important as was the focus on 'sharing benefits', rather than water.
Description
This event focused on the cross-sectoral issues of water resources which underpinned supply and use of water within different sectors.