Africa water atlas

This Atlas shows Africa’s endowment and use of water resources. It gathers information about water in Africa and its role in the economy and development, health, food security, transboundary cooperation, capacity building and environmental change. The Atlas starts with a Special Feature that focuses on the often two-sided nature of water issues in Africa: surplus and scarcity, under-developed and overexploited and challenges and opportunities. Chapter one provides the geographical foundations of water quantity, quality and distribution across Africa’s diverse regions. Chapter two focuses on water at the scale of major watersheds and groundwater basins that cross national boundaries. Chapter three examines nine challenges and opportunities facing Africa as it strives to improve the quantity, quality and use of its water resources. Each of the nine issues is presented by discussing the challenge, the situation, the constraints and the opportunities. The final chapter is a country-by-country look at water availability and withdrawals, irrigation and water use by sector. Two of the most important water issues in each country are identified and discussed. The country profiles also summarize progress toward the MDG water targets. The Atlas is meant as a tool for decisions makers by providing clues to address Africa’s most challenging water issues.