Introduction

I have been very privileged to explore different subsections of the African continent, through different expeditions.   On each trip I have experienced various levels of luxury, from a safari to school trips and charity missions.  While I believe I have only scraped the surface in my exploration of this continent, one thing has become abundantly clear. Africa is diverse. Diverse in culture, diverse in politics, diverse in economics and diverse in the issues it faces. Two of these issues are things I have been lucky to take for granted in my life: Food and Water. In this introductory blog I shall provide some context to the interconnected nature of these two resources, while exploring some of the opportunities and barriers to development.

Water 

Water provision in Africa is incredibly complex, demonstrated by difficulty in providing a universally accepted metric to measure it. Falkenmark’s Water Stress index is one of the most popular: it states that a country is water-stressed if it provides less than 1700m³ water per capita annually (Taylor,2011). Figures defining water scarcity are often dubious, generated through ‘simplifications, omissions and assumptions’(Taylor,2017,251). Falkenmark for example uses river runoff for defining a country’s water stress. Rivers in Africa show the highest levels of variability across the entire planet, and this does not account for yearly variations or socio-economic factors(Conway,2008). For example, many African countries have an excess of freshwater but insufficient resources or infrastructures to access it. 

Figure 1 (Taylor, 2017,521)

Studies suggest there is no correlation between access to freshwater and the percentage of a country which is water-scarce. Table 1 shows that Egypt is one the countries with the lowest annual per capita water availability, yet it has the highest % of the population with access to safe drinking water.   This shows how complicated the relationship between water and the African continent is.  Levels of infrastructure, population change, engagement with water provision projects, climate change and politics have all affected the ability of African countries to access sufficient water. 

Water and food 

So, what does water have to do with food? Well, everything: they are inextricably intertwined. The production of 1kg of beef requires 15,000 litres of water, while 1kg of chocolate requires 17,919 litres. To put that into perspective the water resource required to produce a 200gram steak is equivalent to ten years of a person’s recommended daily drinking water(Guardian,2013).

  

Photo source- (Kingfisher,2020).- A 15,000 litre water tank for perspective

Further, in Africa, agriculture accounts for a huge percentage of water use. Agriculture is also the single biggest employer in the African continent. Over 52% of Sub-Saharan Africans are employed in agriculture, double the global average(World Bank,2020). With over 226 million people across the continent said to be physically starving, food production is clearly one of Africa’s most pressing issues(Worldvision,2020).  

Looking forward

Africa has the fastest growing rates of population and urbanisation of any continent(CFR,2020).  Further, its position on the ITCZ (high seasonality), means it is expected to be disproportionately affected by climate change(Conway,2008).   This all means dramatic change is expected this century with regard to water provision and food requirements. Africa must adapt its provision of food and water to keep pace. This blog will explore the potential of different schemes which aim to maximise the provision these resources. I will level with you now: don’t expect a single solution. The socio-economic, climatic and geological conditions of Africa are just too diverse for this to be possible!