Cooperation on Africa's transboundary aquifers—conceptual ideas

Abstract

As many of Africa's groundwater resources are stored in approximately 40 transboundary aquifer systems, cross-boundary coordination will become imperative if this potential is to be developed. A research and consultancy project has investigated the stages of cooperation on Africa's transboundary aquifer systems and considered whether national utilisation patterns are already causing negative transboundary impacts on riparian states. While most overuse and negative effects have so far been contained at local level, development plans are potential threats. The research project assumed that the identification of typical riparian constellations based on hydrogeological, geopolitical, social and economic features could contribute to an understanding of the transboundary implications of national usage and thus of the basis on which to develop management. The typology developed by Eckstein & Eckstein was used and refined for the analysis. However, it seems that transboundary aquifer systems defy simplification and do not allow typical riparian constellations to be identified. Owing to the major uncertainties encountered, it is not trivial to state that improving the knowledge base for management is of the utmost importance.