Institutionalizing groundwater management and transboundary aquifer cooperation in sub-Saharan lake and river basin organizations

Abstract

ABSTRACT Groundwater is a major source of water supply and supports many ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa. According to Integrated Water Resources Management principles, institutionalizing groundwater management and transboundary aquifer cooperation within lake and river basin organizations has long been on the agenda. Although progress has been made at the institutional and operational levels over the last decade, the capacity of these organizations has not been structurally augmented. While this calls for broad structural changes, a few practical solutions are proposed, such as hiring hydrogeologists in regional institutions, adopting open water data policies, and prioritizing intervention areas in transboundary aquifers.