Policy for integrated water resources management

Water plays a crucial role in the economic development of African countries, and in sustaining natural ecosystems. The various uses of water impinge upon its availability in terms of quantity, quality and time for various economic, social and environmental needs. This has incited the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund to develop a lending policy for the Water Sector. In view of the prevailing unsatisfactory situation in this sector in many Regional Member Countries, the Bank policy on water resources focuses on four key issues : 1) national policies which emphasise treatment of water as an economic good; 2) legislation that reflects policy principles, and provide adequate mechanisms for policy implementation; 3) knowledge and databases of water resources, ecosystems, demographics, water quantity and quality system losses, and water user; and 4) adaptation and/or strengthening of institutions to be more effective in the management of Africa's water resources. The Bank supports water resources management activities that promote policy consultation among all stakeholders, and seeks broad participation. It supports broad efforts of riparian countries in developing strategies for integrated water resources management and will assist in providing financial resources for multinational and regional organisations and river basin authorities. It supports programmes aimed at rehabilitating existing infrastructures, including leakage detection in water supply systems, that improve water distribution for irrigation, increase accountability of utilities for deficiencies in their operations, and provides better incentives for efficient management of water resources. The Bank continues to support supply capacity augmentation where necessary and feasible.