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O. Mahjoub et al.
• In Mauritania, research is hindered by the lack of human resource management
and the absence of clear planning programs, as well as by insufficient material resources which have produced very limited impact on water management.
Despite these constraints, the government has established that understanding the
economical use of water resources, and monitoring both the quality and quantity
of water, is a priority.
Water research institution networks and technology transfer have been successfully developed in the region. These networks involve mainly countries from both
sides of the Mediterranean, rather than within Africa.
Indeed, the need for sustainable water resource management constitutes a potentially key opportunity for cooperation across Africa to jointly lower the risk of conflict
within the region as a result of a more integrated and prosperous North Africa.
7 Conclusions and Recommendations
The northern part of the African continent as a whole suffers from serious water
scarcity. The six countries of North Africa are below the African average at
260 m
3 /cap/year. Five of the six countries are subject to a serious water deficit,
with water shares of less than 500 m
3 /cap/year. In the region, Egypt and Mauritania
are 95% dependent on transboundary water resources. Groundwater withdrawal very
often exceeds natural replenishment, resulting in a progressive decline of the aquifers
and in a deterioration of water quality.
The water situation in North Africa is expected to worsen due to the growing needs
generated by population growth, urbanization, and the effects of climate change on
the availability and variability of water resources. Because of the increasing demands
of water use, in particular for agriculture estimated at an average of 80% of water
consumption, non-conventional water supplies have been developed progressively
to offer additional fit-for-purpose water.
Particular attention has been paid by regional governments to improve access to
water by focusing on water governance, and institutional and technical solutions. In
the last decade, all North African countries have taken up the challenge to improve
water resource management by adopting water policies through a master plan for
sustainable water resource management. These policies are different among countries, and the effectiveness of their implementation is dependent upon significant
commitment and cooperation among water sector partners.
High-level recommendations for water resource management and increasing
effectiveness of water use in the region are
• Making water-saving a key element of water policy, adopting modern irrigation
technologies and controlling and reducing unaccounted-for water;
• Introducing water conservation strategies and encouraging water harvesting by
returning to traditional, small-scale infrastructures and robust water and soil
conservation systems, especially in arid areas;
O. Mahjoub et al.
• In Mauritania, research is hindered by the lack of human resource management
and the absence of clear planning programs, as well as by insufficient material resources which have produced very limited impact on water management.
Despite these constraints, the government has established that understanding the
economical use of water resources, and monitoring both the quality and quantity
of water, is a priority.
Water research institution networks and technology transfer have been successfully developed in the region. These networks involve mainly countries from both
sides of the Mediterranean, rather than within Africa.
Indeed, the need for sustainable water resource management constitutes a potentially key opportunity for cooperation across Africa to jointly lower the risk of conflict
within the region as a result of a more integrated and prosperous North Africa.
7 Conclusions and Recommendations
The northern part of the African continent as a whole suffers from serious water
scarcity. The six countries of North Africa are below the African average at
260 m
3 /cap/year. Five of the six countries are subject to a serious water deficit,
with water shares of less than 500 m
3 /cap/year. In the region, Egypt and Mauritania
are 95% dependent on transboundary water resources. Groundwater withdrawal very
often exceeds natural replenishment, resulting in a progressive decline of the aquifers
and in a deterioration of water quality.
The water situation in North Africa is expected to worsen due to the growing needs
generated by population growth, urbanization, and the effects of climate change on
the availability and variability of water resources. Because of the increasing demands
of water use, in particular for agriculture estimated at an average of 80% of water
consumption, non-conventional water supplies have been developed progressively
to offer additional fit-for-purpose water.
Particular attention has been paid by regional governments to improve access to
water by focusing on water governance, and institutional and technical solutions. In
the last decade, all North African countries have taken up the challenge to improve
water resource management by adopting water policies through a master plan for
sustainable water resource management. These policies are different among countries, and the effectiveness of their implementation is dependent upon significant
commitment and cooperation among water sector partners.
High-level recommendations for water resource management and increasing
effectiveness of water use in the region are
• Making water-saving a key element of water policy, adopting modern irrigation
technologies and controlling and reducing unaccounted-for water;
• Introducing water conservation strategies and encouraging water harvesting by
returning to traditional, small-scale infrastructures and robust water and soil
conservation systems, especially in arid areas;