Climate Change Fuels Africa's Escalating Water Crisis

Securing reliable water supplies has long been a challenge across Africa, and the situation is expected to worsen as droughts grow more frequent and severe. Past crises in other regions, such as Iran’s warning of potential evacuations due to water shortages and Cape Town’s near ‘Day Zero’ scenario in 2018, underscore the urgency. Recent dry spells in eastern and southern Africa have already had devastating impacts on food production, highlighting the need for proactive solutions. At the recent World Water Congress in Marrakech, experts emphasized the importance of strengthening water infrastructure in Africa and the Global South to adapt to climate change. The UN Secretary-General’s special envoy on water, Retno Marsdui, highlighted that by 2030, 4.8 billion people could face health and livelihood risks from poor water quality, emphasizing the grim reality confronting many communities. Non-conventional water solutions have a long history in North Africa. In Morocco, ancient khettaras—underground tunnels—were used to channel water to farms and settlements, while modern innovations, such as Marrakech’s $1.5 billion wastewater treatment facility, recycle water for irrigation, industrial use, and green spaces. However, most sub-Saharan African countries face financial constraints that limit investments in such non-conventional solutions, compounded by declining donor funding. Experts argue that Africa must develop domestic financing mechanisms and locally led solutions rather than relying heavily on external aid. Despite water’s fundamental importance, many African governments have historically underinvested in securing supplies. Rashid Mbaziira, executive secretary of AMCOW, noted that decision-makers often lack basic data on rainfall and resource management, making planning difficult. Strengthening data systems and infrastructure is critical, as well as convincing finance ministries that investing in water yields strong economic, health, and social returns. Morocco is advancing ambitious projects to modernize its water infrastructure, particularly through desalination. The country has expanded desalination capacity from 35 million cubic meters in 2021 to 350 million cubic meters today, aiming for 1,700 million cubic meters by 2030—enough to supply 60% of its drinking water. Morocco powers its desalination plants entirely with renewable energy, reducing costs and carbon emissions, and positions this model as an example for sub-Saharan Africa. Mobile desalination and “water highways” that transfer water from surplus to deficit regions are also being implemented to improve distribution. Experts note that sub-Saharan Africa can learn from North African countries like Morocco and Egypt, which have successfully implemented water megaprojects using public-private partnerships. Domestic companies have gained expertise in building and exporting these solutions. However, large-scale projects like dams come with challenges, such as high water loss from evaporation, and are only part of the solution. Managing water demand, particularly in agriculture, industry, and other high-usage sectors, is equally critical. As Africa faces a drier future, innovative approaches to both supply and demand management will be essential. Investments in infrastructure, sustainable practices, and locally led solutions will determine whether the continent can secure water for its growing population amid the pressures of climate change.