Innovations in water quality monitoring and management in Africa: towards developing an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ)

The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) Secretariat committed to design and implement an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ) in its Strategic Operational Plan (2020-2024) considering the guiding frameworks it uses such as the Africa Water Vision 2025, United Nations Sustainable Development...

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Main Authors: Mukuyu, Patience, Warner, S., Chapman, D. V., Jayathilake, Nilanthi, Dickens, Chris, Mateo-Sagasta, Javier
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Water Management Institute 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/144162
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author Mukuyu, Patience
Warner, S.
Chapman, D. V.
Jayathilake, Nilanthi
Dickens, Chris
Mateo-Sagasta, Javier
author_browse Chapman, D. V.
Dickens, Chris
Jayathilake, Nilanthi
Mateo-Sagasta, Javier
Mukuyu, Patience
Warner, S.
author_facet Mukuyu, Patience
Warner, S.
Chapman, D. V.
Jayathilake, Nilanthi
Dickens, Chris
Mateo-Sagasta, Javier
author_sort Mukuyu, Patience
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) Secretariat committed to design and implement an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ) in its Strategic Operational Plan (2020-2024) considering the guiding frameworks it uses such as the Africa Water Vision 2025, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the African Union Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. AMCOW reached out to the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) to support the development of such a program. AWaQ builds on the rich experiences and lessons learned from past and ongoing regional and subregional water quality initiatives across Africa by different players, including African Union institutions, and the wider members of the World Water Quality Alliance (WWQA), as well as the AMCOW African Water and Sanitation Sector Monitoring and Reporting System (WASSMO). The five phases of developing an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ) are explained in the following papers: 1. State of Water Quality Monitoring and Pollution Control in Africa (phase 1-2) 2. Innovations in Water Quality Monitoring and Management in Africa (phase 3-4) 3. A Framework for an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ) (phase 5) 4. Country Water Quality Profiles This paper is the second in the above list and documents the greatest innovations in water quality monitoring and management in Africa, and proposes interventions to strengthen Africa’s current water quality monitoring and management efforts. Innovations related to monitoring program design, analytical techniques and instruments, deployment of instrumentation and approaches to water quality monitoring are presented together with their applicability and suitability for implementation in Africa. Similarly, water quality management interventions — policy and regulatory mechanisms, catchment-based management, data management and sharing, wastewater reuse and nature-based solutions, among others — are examined. The most suitable interventions are proposed for African contexts using criteria such as affordability, scalability and flexibility. Key findings of this paper highlight the following: 1. There are numerous innovations within water quality monitoring and management. However, not all of them may be suitable for implementation in resource-constrained environments characteristic of many parts of Africa. For example, statistical analysis and modelling may require large amounts of existing monitoring data currently unavailable in most African countries. Nonetheless, other interventions such as the priority monitoring approach can be beneficial in optimizing resource utilization. Similarly, technological interventions such as multi-parameter sensors for basic water quality variables are now widely available and affordable in the provision of in situ results and lessening the need for laboratory analysis. 2. Available and existing traditional methods of water quality monitoring and management offer a good starting point to further strengthen and streamline efforts for increasing efficiency and effectiveness. Currently available laboratory facilities may benefit from instrumentation upgrades and continuous staff training. 3. There is scope for community and citizen engagement in the various processes of water resources monitoring and management. There is evidence that this enables success where governments do not have the monitoring capacity or adequate resources.
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spelling CGSpace1441622025-11-07T08:03:51Z Innovations in water quality monitoring and management in Africa: towards developing an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ) Mukuyu, Patience Warner, S. Chapman, D. V. Jayathilake, Nilanthi Dickens, Chris Mateo-Sagasta, Javier water quality monitoring innovations technology policies regulations guidelines standards laboratory techniques instrumentation analytical methods testing water resources catchment areas transboundary waters groundwater contaminants water pollution pollution control parameters bio-assays human health awareness-raising data management wastewater treatment water reuse nature-based solutions intervention community involvement citizen science capacity development training best practices sustainable development goals goal 6 clean water and sanitation earth observation satellites sensors The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) Secretariat committed to design and implement an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ) in its Strategic Operational Plan (2020-2024) considering the guiding frameworks it uses such as the Africa Water Vision 2025, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the African Union Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. AMCOW reached out to the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) to support the development of such a program. AWaQ builds on the rich experiences and lessons learned from past and ongoing regional and subregional water quality initiatives across Africa by different players, including African Union institutions, and the wider members of the World Water Quality Alliance (WWQA), as well as the AMCOW African Water and Sanitation Sector Monitoring and Reporting System (WASSMO). The five phases of developing an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ) are explained in the following papers: 1. State of Water Quality Monitoring and Pollution Control in Africa (phase 1-2) 2. Innovations in Water Quality Monitoring and Management in Africa (phase 3-4) 3. A Framework for an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ) (phase 5) 4. Country Water Quality Profiles This paper is the second in the above list and documents the greatest innovations in water quality monitoring and management in Africa, and proposes interventions to strengthen Africa’s current water quality monitoring and management efforts. Innovations related to monitoring program design, analytical techniques and instruments, deployment of instrumentation and approaches to water quality monitoring are presented together with their applicability and suitability for implementation in Africa. Similarly, water quality management interventions — policy and regulatory mechanisms, catchment-based management, data management and sharing, wastewater reuse and nature-based solutions, among others — are examined. The most suitable interventions are proposed for African contexts using criteria such as affordability, scalability and flexibility. Key findings of this paper highlight the following: 1. There are numerous innovations within water quality monitoring and management. However, not all of them may be suitable for implementation in resource-constrained environments characteristic of many parts of Africa. For example, statistical analysis and modelling may require large amounts of existing monitoring data currently unavailable in most African countries. Nonetheless, other interventions such as the priority monitoring approach can be beneficial in optimizing resource utilization. Similarly, technological interventions such as multi-parameter sensors for basic water quality variables are now widely available and affordable in the provision of in situ results and lessening the need for laboratory analysis. 2. Available and existing traditional methods of water quality monitoring and management offer a good starting point to further strengthen and streamline efforts for increasing efficiency and effectiveness. Currently available laboratory facilities may benefit from instrumentation upgrades and continuous staff training. 3. There is scope for community and citizen engagement in the various processes of water resources monitoring and management. There is evidence that this enables success where governments do not have the monitoring capacity or adequate resources. 2024-05-28 2024-05-30T14:14:10Z 2024-05-30T14:14:10Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/144162 en Open Access application/pdf International Water Management Institute Mukuyu, Patience; Warner, S.; Chapman, D. V.; Jayathilake, Nilanthi; Dickens, Chris; Mateo-Sagasta, Javier. 2024. Innovations in water quality monitoring and management in Africa: towards developing an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ). Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 52p. (IWMI Working Paper 208) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2023.217]
spellingShingle water quality
monitoring
innovations
technology
policies
regulations
guidelines
standards
laboratory techniques
instrumentation
analytical methods
testing
water resources
catchment areas
transboundary waters
groundwater
contaminants
water pollution
pollution control
parameters
bio-assays
human health
awareness-raising
data management
wastewater treatment
water reuse
nature-based solutions
intervention
community involvement
citizen science
capacity development
training
best practices
sustainable development goals
goal 6 clean water and sanitation
earth observation satellites
sensors
Mukuyu, Patience
Warner, S.
Chapman, D. V.
Jayathilake, Nilanthi
Dickens, Chris
Mateo-Sagasta, Javier
Innovations in water quality monitoring and management in Africa: towards developing an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ)
title Innovations in water quality monitoring and management in Africa: towards developing an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ)
title_full Innovations in water quality monitoring and management in Africa: towards developing an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ)
title_fullStr Innovations in water quality monitoring and management in Africa: towards developing an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ)
title_full_unstemmed Innovations in water quality monitoring and management in Africa: towards developing an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ)
title_short Innovations in water quality monitoring and management in Africa: towards developing an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ)
title_sort innovations in water quality monitoring and management in africa towards developing an african water quality program awaq
topic water quality
monitoring
innovations
technology
policies
regulations
guidelines
standards
laboratory techniques
instrumentation
analytical methods
testing
water resources
catchment areas
transboundary waters
groundwater
contaminants
water pollution
pollution control
parameters
bio-assays
human health
awareness-raising
data management
wastewater treatment
water reuse
nature-based solutions
intervention
community involvement
citizen science
capacity development
training
best practices
sustainable development goals
goal 6 clean water and sanitation
earth observation satellites
sensors
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/144162
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