By Abbas Nazil
Africa’s rainfed agriculture, which supports the majority of the continent’s food systems, faces increasing vulnerability due to erratic rainfall and the mounting pressures of climate change.
Despite the continent’s vast irrigation potential, only a small percentage of arable land is currently under irrigation.
In response to this challenge, the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s Center on Climate Change & Planetary Health, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the Water Research Commission, and the African Union, has released a new policy brief.
This brief advocates for the implementation of the “Framework for Irrigation Development and Agricultural Water Management (IDAWM)” as a critical step toward enhancing Agricultural Water Management (AWM) across the African Union.
The IDAWM Framework serves as a coordinated strategy for guiding regional and national agricultural water policies with a focus on achieving food security at a continental level.
The policy brief underscores that expanding irrigation must be a key adaptation strategy to enhance productivity and reduce the risks associated with rainfed farming.
However, it also stresses the importance of a balanced approach that carefully considers potential trade-offs.
Irrigation development, while essential for boosting yields and ensuring food resilience, is not without its challenges.
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Environmental consequences such as land use change, soil degradation, excessive water abstraction, and pollution are significant concerns.
In addition, social implications—such as shifts in gender roles and power dynamics within communities—must be taken into account.
Governance issues surrounding equitable water access and rights also pose considerable obstacles.
The policy brief cautions that even efficiency improvements in irrigation systems, though well-intentioned, can sometimes backfire by increasing overall water use, as seen in various global cases.
“Sustainable irrigation isn’t just about increasing productivity; it’s about balancing environmental, social, health, and governance trade-offs to create resilient and inclusive agri-food systems that deliver multiple benefits for people and the planet,” said Professor Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi, WEFE Lead at UNU-INWEH and lead author of the brief.
The IDAWM Framework is designed to provide a practical and structured approach to identifying challenges in AWM, fostering regional dialogue, and prioritizing strategies that ensure long-term sustainability.
If effectively adopted, it could revolutionize African agriculture by transforming the water-energy-environment nexus and boosting food security.
As Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU-INWEH, puts it, “Unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential lies in transforming water, energy, and environmental systems—through systematic and responsible agricultural water management and irrigation development.”
He remarks: “Thinking beyond water, we can mitigate climate vulnerabilities and catalyze food security for millions.”
