Strengthening water resource management for climate resilience and water security in West Africa
Since its introduction in 2011, the Securing Water Resources Approach has improved water security and climate resilience in rural, semi-arid areas. By including water, sanitation and hygiene with integrated water resource management, it connects the agriculture, livelihoods, environment and domestic water supply sectors to enhance resilience and water security in rural communities.
This learning brief explores our efforts to enhance water resource management in West Africa’s semi-arid regions over the past 15 years, with a focus on implementing the Securing Water Resources Approach (SWRA).
The brief is aimed at practitioners who are seeking to enhance climate resilience and water security at basin, sub-catchment and local levels.
This work is a concrete example of how we work in collaboration, across multiple sectors, to strengthen the systems required to deliver safe, sustainable and climate-resilient water supply services to people who are most affected by climate threats. This approach involves working with a wide variety of actors, including:
- national governments
- local governments
- river basin authorities
- sub-basin management committees
- farmers
- water users at community level
Our role involves building stronger connections between water users and institutions which handle water supply, agriculture, environmental management and water resource management. We do this by providing training to assess climate risks, water risks, water resource data collection and analysis, and monitoring and strategic planning.
We also empower local actors to actively participate in evidence-based planning and decision making and receive access to the right financial support. Alongside building climate resilience and water security, SWRA aims to reduce localised conflict over water access.
Top image: Justine Sawadogo near the village of Bonam, Burkina Faso.