Development - cooperation

Dans le cadre de la mise en oeuvre du projet E-Nexus, il est prévu le développement et l’implémentation d’un modèle hydrologique pour l’estimation du bilan hydrologique et à la gestion de l’eau, la production agricole, le maintien des écosystèmes. A cet effet, SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) a été identifié comme le modèle hydrologique à développer sur le bassin du Niger. Ce modèle permettra de fournir des produits et services sur la connaissance des ressources en eau sur l’ensemble du bassin (Adéquation entre la disponibilité et la demande), la prévision des crues (contribution au système d’alerte précoce), les projections d’échelle climatiques (planification des ressources en eau sur le bassin). Modèle hydrologique pluie-débit, semi-distribué au pas de temps journalier, les données pluviométriques journalières avec une bonne résolution spatiale constituent les entrées importantes de SWAT. Dans ce présent rapport, nous présentons les étapes de développement du modèle SWAT, le processus de calage du modèle et les projections climatiques à considérer pour évaluer la disponibilité future des ressources en eau sur le bassin du fleuve Niger.

The Zambezi River basin (ZRB) is of paramount importance to the eight riparian SADC countries. The trans-boundary river is used for hydropower generation, provision of water for irrigation and ecosystem services to the region. The ZRB is characterized by extreme climatic events of floods and droughts resulting in challenges on balancing water allocation among the multiple and competing water uses. Population growth and industrial development in the region increased water demand especially for hydropower generation for the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and irrigation.

The Water and Cooperation within the Zambezi River Basin (WACOZA) initiative terms of reference are defined within the project: “The African Networks of Centres of Excellence on Water Sciences PHASE II (ACE WATER 2)” that aims at fostering sustainable capacity development at scientific, technical and institutional level in the water sector. The project supports twenty (20) AU-NEPAD African Network of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Water Sciences and Technology organised in three regional networks, in conducting high-end scientific research on water and related sectors in order to provide effective scientific and educational support to governments. The project is implemented in partnership between UNESCO, in charge of the human capacity development component, and the JRC that coordinates the scientific component and leads this project.

The Zambezi River Basin (ZRB) is an important transboundary basin (Figure 1) that is shared by eight riparian countries: Zambia (41.9% of total area), Angola (18.2%), Namibia (1.1%), Botswana (1.5%), Zimbabwe (15.9%), Tanzania (2.2%), Malawi (7.5%), and Mozambique (11.6%) (Beck & Bernauer, 2010; Shela, 2000). At 2,574 km long and a total catchment area of 1.39 million km², the basin is Africa’s fourth largest and the largest river system in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Annual rainfall decreases southwards from the high rainfall areas in the north. It varies between a minimum of 530 mm to a maximum of 2220 mm, giving a basin wide mean of approximately 930 mm. The basin is home to a total population of between 32 and 40 million, with 80% of these living in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The New Partnership for Africa's Development Southern Africa Network of Water Centres of Excellence (NEPAD-SANWATCE) is participating in the implementation of the European Union (EU) funded African Centres of Excellence (ACE) WATER 2 project for the period 2016-2019. The University of Malawi, through the Natural Resources and Environment Centre (NAREC), one of SANWATCE’s satellite centres of water excellence, is taking lead in the coordination of the characterization of current agriculture activities, future potential irrigation developments and food security in the face of climate variability in the Zambezi River Basin (ZRB).

Hydropower has been recognized as a sustainable source of energy as it is environmentally friendly (nonpolluting source of energy), has low operating and maintenance cost and technology that offers reliable and flexible operation, and its operating efficiency increases along with long life. Due to the above features, the production of hydropower is expected to grow in developing countries and especially in Sub-Saharan African region, where there is over 400 gigawatts of undeveloped hydro potential.

KEYWORD: WATER, ACEWATER2, SUN.AC.ZA