Date 9 May 2017

Time 14:30-16:00

Co-convenor African Ministers’ Council on Water

Freshwater management is a major societal challenge, especially in developing economies. It is also becoming increasingly difficult due to the impacts of climate change.

Hydropower infrastructure is capable of storing water, setting it apart from other renewable technologies.

Hydropower’s storage capabilities enable it to provide climate adaptation services to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events, such as prolonged drought and significant flood events.

At the crossroads of the water and energy nexus, hydropower can serve as the driver for the development of more multipurpose reservoirs. It therefore has the potential to play a fundamental role in achieving most of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular ensuring availability and sustainable management of water for all.

The session addressed questions such as: do current policies provide an adequate framework to respond to the challenges of sustainable water management and achieve the SDGs? How can hard and soft infrastructure work together to deliver water services?

Representatives from governments, business and civil society organisations discussed the challenges they face and shared ideas and solutions based on proven good practices and success stories from around the world.

WATER SECURITY FOR ALL

International Hydropower Association

Chancery House, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, London SM1 IJB, United Kingdom

T: +44 20 8652 5290 F: +44 20 8643 5600 E: iha@hydropower.org

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SESSION REPORT

Speakers• Ahmed Bahaa Eldin, chair of Nile water sector, ministry of water resources and

irrigation, Arab Republic of Egypt• Seleshi Bekele, minister of water, irrigation and electricity, Federal Democratic

Republic of Ethiopia• Giulio Boccaletti, chief strategy officer and global managing director for water, The

Nature Conservancy• Canisius Kanangire, executive secretary, African Ministers’ Council on Water• Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, commissioner for rural economy and agriculture,

African Union Commission• Yves Rannou, president and CEO, hydro, GE Renewables (moderator)

2017 World Hydropower Congress

Key discussion pointsIn her opening address, Josefa Sacko made the case for inclusive growth in Africa, capitalising on the potential of its people, in particular women and young people. The African Union Commission (AUC) collaborates with the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) in the areas of agriculture and rural development, water and the environment.

AMCOW has developed a set of common indicators to monitor progress on water quality and sanitation. These indicators are reported on periodically at African Union summits to facilitate informed and evidenced-based policy decisions.

AUC’s many partners range from river basin organisations, like the Nile Basin Initiative, to financial institutions such as the World Bank Group, and international agencies, including UN Water and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The Nature Conservancy has developed the ‘Hydropower by Design’ concept, a strategic portfolio approach to allow energy production while maintaining vital river functions

The main challenges for water security include a lack of appropriate policies and regulatory framework, inadequate capacity for information management, and limited funds. AUC is committed to engaging with all parties to address these challenges and achieve the African Water Vision 2025, Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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WATER SECURITY FOR ALL

Ahmed Bahaa Eldin Canisius Kanangire

Josefa Sacko Seleshi Bekele

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Giulio Boccaletti followed with an introductory address on the important role hydropower can play in adapting to climate change and improving water security, with a view to achieving SDG 6 (‘ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’).

Hydropower has the capability to manage freshwater resources sustainably, foster economic development and conserve ecosystems. Hydropower’s related infrastructure, institutions and management together have a critical role to play in finding the optimal solutions.

With this in mind, The Nature Conservancy has developed the ‘Hydropower by Design’ concept, a strategic portfolio approach to allow energy production while maintaining vital river functions.

Acknowledging the need for a paradigm shift, the approach emphasises that hydropower cannot be developed in isolation, and requires optimisation and investment in better portfolios.

Representing AMCOW, Canisius Kanangire stressed that water-related disaster and

water risks must be managed. Good governance and decision-making need to be in place in order to implement water for all.

He emphasised that transboundary waters can be a source of conflict but also of cooperation, in cases where both the cost of development and the benefits are shared. He also pointed out that development of infrastructure boosts resilience.

Ahmed Bahaa Eldin described the severe water challenges faced by Egypt, due to a lack of infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of extreme drought.

With its growing population and increasing water demand, Egypt is facing a water deficit. As such, it is having to tap into alternative water sources, such as groundwater and wastewater.

Cooperation is essential, and he explained that cooperation and trust between riparian countries can open new opportunities and be a win-win situation when benefits are shared.

Seleshi Bekele highlighted that water security is not simply about the quantity of water, but also quality. Water security is also intrinsically linked to vulnerability.

Hydropower developments can deliver many benefits, particularly in terms of managing the impact of extreme climate events such as El Niño o La Niña.

Water security is not simply about the quantity of water, but also quality

With the appropriate policies and institutions, hydropower development can address security concerns around climate variability and related risks, including water quality.

Sustainable water resources management needs to take into consideration transboundary and environmental aspects, such as good governance and equity.

Bekele explained that multipurpose projects can deliver many benefits. He gave the example of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which manages sediments and water upstream, to the benefit of countries downstream.

Bekele concluded by stating that: “without water access, there is no prosperity, there is no water security”.

WATER SECURITY FOR ALL

L-R: Yves Rannou, Ahmed Bahaa Eldin, Canisius Kanangire, Seleshi Bekele, Josefa Sacko, Giulio Boccaletti

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common indicators on water and sanitation can facilitate cooperation and evidenced-based policy decisions.

The main challenges remain a lack of appropriate policies and regulatory framework, an inadequate capacity for information management and limited funding.

ConclusionsHydropower has a major role to play in adapting to climate change and improving water security to contribute to SDG 6.

When the costs of development and the benefits are shared, transboundary waters can also be a source of cooperation.

With this in mind, the development of monitoring and reporting systems with

WATER SECURITY FOR ALL

Giulio Boccaletti

What next?Building on the session, IHA will work to ensure water is valued appropriately.

There is limited understanding of hydropower’s contribution to water supply and security, in particular when it comes to hydropower’s water footprint and the mitigation of risks.

In times of drought, access to water becomes more valued and during floods,

controlling excess water is critical.

This is even more relevant when taking into account that changes in hydrological patterns are increasingly expected.

IHA's strategic priority will be to develop an accepted framework for reporting on hydropower’s net water footprint taking into account the multiple uses of a reservoir and the interseasonal value of water.

The framework will be developed in cooperation with the relevant IHA knowledge network and expert group.