• History of G-WADI
• Background Issues
• Objectives
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History of the organization
Following a decision at the 15th session of the The International
Hydrological Programme (IHP) and a subsequent meeting of
international experts in December 2002, UNESCO supported
the establishment of a Global Network on Water Resources
Management in Arid and Semi-arid Zones by bringing together
an international group of experts to develop the concept,
objectives, and an outline of the Network. The first meeting
in Paris, in April 2003, was attended by 24 participants
from 17 countries and representing water authorities and
institutions related to arid zones, UNESCO, FAO, WMO, SAHRA,
IAEA, Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), International
Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), the European Space
Agency (ESA), Programme SudMed and L'Institut de Recherche
pour le Développement (IRD).
In work groups and plenary sessions,
the participants discussed concerns and problems and arrived
at a draft implementation plan that: outlines the organizational
structure, membership, links with other organizations and
stakeholders; identifies objectives; and sets a timetable
for work.
In the Paris Declaration
that resulted from this intensive and interactive discussion,
the participants agreed to the following (click
here to see the declaration):
• Underline the urgent need for
increased regional and international cooperation contributing
to sustainable development of arid and semi-arid zones,
by establishing G-WADI
• Declare their firm intention to contribute to the
establishment of G-WADI including its secretariat and nodes
and to take active part in realizing its objectives and
activities annexed to this declaratio
• Commit themselves to generate initiatives to achieve
national and international support for the development
and sustainability of G-WADI, whenever appropriate
• Call upon the IHP secretariat, UNESCO, related
centers, and relevant regional and international centers
to further develop this initiative, in close cooperation
with partner institutions in the world
• Request the IHP Bureau to recommend to the IHP
Council to accept and endorse this initiative as one of
the capacity building activities under the IHP-V1 and
beyond
• Request the UNESCO Secretariat to call upon national,
international governmental organizations, concerned NGOs
(FAO, IAWEA and WMO and relevant international conventions)
and donors (GEF, World Bank, EU) to support this initiative.
Background (back to top)
Arid and semi-arid areas face globally the greatest pressures
to deliver and manage freshwater resources. It has been
estimated that some 80 countries, constituting 40% of the
world’s population were suffering from serious water
shortages by the mid 1990s and that in less than 25 years
two-thirds of the world’s people will be living in
water stressed countries, most of these in North Africa,
the Middle East and West Asia (Geo-3, 2002). Already several
countries in the area show a deficit in water budgets, water
tables are in decline and prolonged droughts currently affect
many countries in semi arid areas such as Southern Africa,
northern China, India, the western coast of South America,
and Australia. Other marginal areas such as southern Europe
and the Great Plains of the USA also suffer from water stress,
overabstraction of groundwater and desertification.
Problems of water scarcity are exacerbated by population
growth, expansion of agricultural activities, salinity increases
and agricultural/urban pollution. It is recognized that
this is not only an issue of resource availability, but
of equity in water management. Moreover, many arid regions
are the focus of potential conflicts over water scarcity
and there is a need to develop strategies to support peace
and security. Improved scientific understanding, cooperation
and data sharing provide ways of better water management
and of supporting conflict resolution.
It is difficult to assess with any accuracy the water balance
in semi-arid areas as compared with water-rich countries.
Rainfall is less predictable and of highly variable intensity
and extent, flood events are difficult to quantify and estimation
of recharge to aquifers is particularly difficult. Few surface
water diversions are accurately gauged, and few wells are
metered. Moreover it is becoming clear that much of the
water being abstracted from deep aquifers is nonrenewable
due to over-pumping beyond the safe-yield levels.
Objectives (back to top)
The strategic objective of G-WADI is to strengthen the global
capacity to manage the water resources of arid and semi-arid
areas. Its primary aim is to build an effective global community
through integration of selected existing material from networks,
centers, organizations, and individuals who would become
members of G-WADI. The network will promote international
and regional cooperation in the arid and semi-arid areas.
The activities initiated within the network will expand
in a dynamic way to meet emerging needs along the lines
of these objectives. Specific objectives are as follows,
although G-WADI is open to new initiatives:
1. improved understanding of the special
characteristics of hydrological systems and water management
needs in arid areas in the SADC region
2. the capacity building of individuals
and institutions, matching supply with need
3. the broad dissemination of understanding
of water in arid zones to the user community and the public,
especially as a basis for improved management
4. the exchange of experience, as through
case studies
5. the sharing of data to support regional
research and the strengthening of data
networks to underpin sound management
6. raising awareness of the potential
of advanced technologies for data provision, data assimilation,
and system analysis
7. promotion of integrated basin management
and the development and use of appropriate decision support
tools
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