Sustainable Integrated Management Framework for Water Resources (SIMFWR) in Africa Arid Regions

Abstract

Water resources shortage and scarcity continue to be a major challenge in Africa arid regions due to climate change, population growth and urbanization. Considering these challenges, there is a need for sustainable management of the available water resources in these regions. Lack of implementation of sustainable integrated management framework for water resources, ineffective human resource capacity and limited efficient water infrastructure are the challenges face by most African arid regions for managing water resources. Investment in research, continuous capacity building of human capital and improved technology will mitigate the impacts of climate change, and associated challenges for water resources in Africa arid regions. In this paper, a sustainable integrated management framework for water resources (SIMFWR) has been developed for the available water resources in Africa arid regions based on the review of relevant literature. At the core of the framework, an integrated management system is designed for the available water resources and said system is girded with the components?and managerial tools that local and national governments can use as compliance factors for sustainable water planning and management. The various actors that can influence the unruffled implementation of the system due to conflicting desires and objectives are considered. The framework can serve as a tool for informing local and national governments as to their challenges and opportunities in water planning and management and can also inform decision-makers where improvements are necessary.

Key words: Water resources management, Africa arid regions, sustainable management, environment components, Actors/stakeholders