Expert's Daring Pitch: How Africa's Water Crisis Can Turn Into Economic Catalyst

Experts have sounded the alarm that Africa's water crisis is not only an environmental issue, it is economic, and increasingly visible. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, insufficient infrastructure is estimated to cost about five percent of GDP yearly, with losses running into tens of billions of dollars. Agriculture which employs roughly sixty percent of the workforce, bears much of the strain through lower yields and rising volatility. Without stronger action, some economies could shrink by up to 10-15 percent by mid-century under worsening water stress. The imbalance remains stark. Studies highlight that achieving sustainable water management and investment is typically cost-effective. What hampers investment in Africa's water resources is the overstated perceived risks, compounded by a challenging macroeconomic environment, despite the continent's enormous potential.

African Currents interviewed Anthony Turton, Professor Emeritus in the Center for Environmental Management at the University of Free State, South Africa, to discuss how water is the critical foundation for economic development, security, and stability in Africa. He emphasizes that effective water governance is critical to reducing poverty, preventing conflict, and attracting foreign investment, while advocating for the integration of traditional African water systems with modern approaches to tackle scarcity and other problems.

"Water is the foundation of all economic development and social cohesion in any region, wherever you find it. And of course, water is a defining element of poverty. Without water, you always typically have poverty and instability as a result [...]. So, the big challenge for Africa is governance. How to effectively govern and manage the water that we have [...]. So, if Africa wants to get serious about its future, it has to think about its investability [...]. Water is an economic enabler. So, I want every listener to this program to understand that one thing, water is an economy enabler. And if water is economic enabler, then the next step is simple. Because now the next is how do we get economic growth? Well, you start off by having water security," Professor Emeritus Turton noted.

Catch the full discussion on the African Currents podcast, presented by Sputnik Africa.

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