World Water Forum 2009:
Water and Energy Security for All:
Feedback of the Sirte 2008 Conference on “Water for Agriculture
and Energy: the Challenges of Climate Change”
Maher Salman, Technical Officer, FAO
20 March 2008 – Istanbul, Turkey
The Challenge
Africa has a vast potential
for agricultural expansion
and of both renewable and
non-renewable energy
sources however...
... the continent is lagging
behind in terms of energy
and agricultural productivity,
with serious implications for
development
and
trade
balance
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
The Projections
African population reaching
2 billion people by 2030 and
expected to double by 2050
Energy demand is expected
to double by 2030 while the
cereal bill for low income
countries is expected to
triple by 2030
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
Agriculture and food security in Africa
Undernourished Population
(as % of total population)
•
•
Approximately 40% of the
population of Sub-Saharan
Africa (SSA) is
undernourished.
Agriculture is a basis of
African economy: it generates
1/3 of the GDP and
employs about 70% of the
work force in most
countries.
Source: FAOSTAT, 2003
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
Irrigation
Irrigation (as % of cultivated area)
•
•
•
Irrigation is practised on 6 %
of the total cultivated area
of the continent
This value ranges from
practically 0 in the Central
African Republic to almost
100 percent in Egypt
About 70 % of the total
area under irrigation is
found in 5 countries (South
Africa, Egypt, Madagascar,
Morocco and Sudan).
Source: FAO, AQUASTAT, 2005
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
Irrigation Potential
River basin
Congo
9.8
Nile
8.0
Zambezi
3.2
Niger
2.8
Volta
1.5
Madagascar
1.5
Lake Chad
1.2
Sub-total
2.2
Other West
6.7
Other South
2.5
Other East
3.1
AFRICA
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
28.0
Other North
Sub-total
Source: FAO, AQUASTAT, 2005
million ha
14.2
42.5
The Energy Gap
• The electricity consumption in most of the African countries does not
reach one tenth of the world average consumption.
• In SSA 526 million people live without access to power supply.
• The supply of energy is limited and unreliable.
• Limited coverage of public electricity grids
People without electricity (1970-2030)
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
Hydropower Potential
• The hydropower potential of Africa is about 13% of the World
potential
• Only 5% of this potential is exploited
• Lack of funding and international support for commercial energy
projects Transition ec.
Latin America
20%
13%
17%
18%
5%
China
8% 13%
OECD
20%
Africa
North
Africa
13%
56%
Middle East South Asia
7%
2%
West Africa
Central Africa
Source: World Energy
Council
East
Africa(WEC), 2001
Southern Africa
Hydropower Generation by Region
East Asia
8%
The Sirte Conference: Objectives
 Examined the issue of water resources in Africa in the context of higher
demand from the agriculture and energy sectors and climate change.
•
•
Enriched discussions held at the Committee of the Whole, the
two roundtables, and the parallel events
53 National Investment Briefs
 Discussed water control projects within the framework of the
Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
About 1,000 projects reviewed (country by country, region by region
for short, medium and long term)
 Examined investment needs and management problems for harnessing
water and irrigation at village level, for the rehabilitation of large-scale
hydro-agricultural works and for the development of major river
basins.
Investment needs estimated at US$ 65 billion in the span of 20 years
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
The Sirte Conference: Outcomes
National Investment Briefs (NIBs) for all African countries
with estimated investment needs in water for agriculture
and energy based on a review and updating of NEPAD-CAADP
and other investment Projections at both country and river
basin levels
A declaration by Governments of Africa and development
partners to put together an Action Plan and engage into
investment programmes for water development in support of
agriculture and energy at short, medium and long term
A follow up mechanism to monitor and evaluate the agreed
Action Plan and to promote more investment programmes on
water for agriculture and energy in Africa
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
Conference Themes and Focus
 THEME 1:
Prospects for Food and Energy Demand by
2015 and Projections for 2030- 2050
 THEME 2:
Defining the Investment Envelope
 THEME 3:
The Financing Mechanisms and
Implementation Strategies
FOCUS ON:
Concrete Programmes and
Action Plan for
Assessment of
their financial
cost in terms of
feasibility
studies and
implementation
of works
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
The investment Envelope for Africa - 1
43% Ongoing
1,000 projects
57% Pipeline
AFRICA
Rehabilitation of
Size of project Small scale water
control
irrigation
Time Frame
2,385
778
Short-term
7,041
3,509
Medium-term
Large scale
Total
7,818
28,207
10,981
38,758
Long-term
1,491
1,329
12,042
14,862
Total
10,917
5,616
48,067
64,600
AFRICA
Rehabilitation of
Size of project Small scale water
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of ClimateLarge
Changescale
Time Frame
control
irrigation
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
4%
1%
12%
Short-term
Total
17%
The Investment Envelope for Africa - 2
The Investment Envelope in
terms of Project Size
Large scale
74%
The Investment Envelope by
Time Frame
Short-term
17%
Long-term
23%
Rehabilitation of
irrigation
9%
Small scale
w ater control
17%
Medium-term
60%
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
The Investment Envelope by Region
North Africa
Northern Africa
15%
Southern Africa
26%
West Africa
East Africa
Central Africa
East Africa
24%
Central Africa
3%
West Africa
32%
Southern Africa
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
The Investment Framework
Prerequisites
•
Policy alignment
•
Public and private institutional capacity
•
Enabling environment that can attract and implement larger proportions of
investment
Objectives
•
To set out the investment requirements and monitor the impact of
investments.
•
To integrate the diverse economic sector interests at national level and
matching these with capital and recurrent budget allocations of governments
and the eligibility requirements of donors.
•
To allow explicit recognition of private investment.
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
Key Messages
water for energy and water for agriculture are not to be seen as necessarily
alternative approaches, instead water management for hydropower and
agriculture should go hand in hand
In many cases, hydropower dams are promoted as being suitable for multipurpose functions, such as supplying water for irrigation and drinking
water, both in the case of large and small-hydropower facilities
Agriculture and energy are two highly interconnected sectors: on one side,
any further growth in the rural space will necessarily increase demand
for energy; on the other side, an increased access to energy could
ensure an adequate agriculture development that would, thus, stimulate
rural and economic development
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
Conclusions
African Countries have to make progress
towards meeting the Maputo budget target
Development partners need to increase
investment in the water sector to help
broaden and accelerate the recent economic
and agricultural growth process
Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change
Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 15-17 December 2008
THANK YOU