West and Central Africa
West and Central Africa continues to face significant climate change impacts—prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainy seasons—as well as fragility, violence, weak institutions, and political instability. In a region with pervasive gender inequality, CIWA is strengthening water security by addressing knowledge and capacity gaps, identifying priority investments and policy actions, and promoting sustainable groundwater management, while working to ensure the inclusive participation of women and youth in water decision-making. Through partnerships with governments, river basin organizations, and stakeholders, CIWA’s interventions support climate-resilient, equitable water governance.
Key engagements include:
• Lake Chad Water Security – Assesses the state of water security and transboundary cooperation in the Lake Chad Basin at political, institutional, and technical levels, building analytical foundations to inform policy and investment planning. Know more
• Improving Water Resources Management in the West and Central Sahel – Improves water resources management by identifying pragmatic investments and policy actions and addressing critical knowledge and capacity gaps. Know more
East Africa
East Africa faces intertwined challenges including climate change, food and water insecurity, and conflict. CIWA’s long history in the Nile Basin supports resilience by strengthening early warning systems, climate risk tools, and cooperative water governance, and by broadening stakeholder engagement in water management and climate action.
Key engagements include:
• Nile Cooperation for Climate Resilience (NCCR) – A five-year project that has strengthened cooperation on flood and drought preparedness, dam safety, water quality, information services, and regional platforms. The project concluded in November 2025, having delivered analytical tools, early warning systems, and institutional coordination mechanisms across the basin. Know more
• Support to Nile Basin Discourse (NBD) – As CIWA’s engagement with NCCR wraps up, support to NBD and related civil society engagement initiatives has continued through new grant mechanisms and project support, enhancing community-level dialogue, resilience planning, and inclusive basin governance. Know more
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is contending with severe drought and water insecurity. CIWA’s work focuses on enhancing access to groundwater, expanding the knowledge base on water resources, and supporting institutional capacity for sustainable resource management. These engagements also explore how water insecurity intersects with fragility, conflict, and climate risk, while promoting cross-border cooperation for resilience.
Key engagements include:
• Untapping Resilience in the Horn of Africa – Strengthens regional cooperation and capacity for groundwater development and management, enhancing data, technical capacity, and resilience planning.
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• South Sudan Transboundary Waters Support Program – Complements the World Bank’s Regional Climate Resilience Program (RCRP) for Eastern and Southern Africa, by deepening dialogue on climate risk and water resources management in refugee-hosting areas and defining targeted resilience interventions. Know more
Southern Africa
Southern Africa faces persistent drought, food and water insecurity, and economic fragility. CIWA supports the region’s response by advancing sustainable groundwater management, drought resilience, and cooperation over shared waters, while bolstering institutional and technical capacity for regional water governance.
Key engagements include:
• SADC Groundwater Management Institute (Phase Two) – Builds on earlier work to provide strategic guidance for managing water and food security, livelihoods, and climate adaptation in the SADC region.
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• Support to Regional Climate Resilience in Eastern and Southern Africa – Strengthens transboundary basin organizations and contributes to the implementation of the World Bank’s Regional Climate Resilience Program, emphasizing bottom-up and demand-driven regional cooperation. Know more
Cross-Cutting Priorities
Cross-cutting themes include:
• Strengthening institutions and data systems to underpin cooperative decision-making.
• Expanding access to groundwater to strengthen water security under climate stress.
• Improving early warning systems for floods and droughts to protect communities and inform investment planning.
• Supporting biodiversity-positive and nature-based solutions as part of integrated climate resilience strategies.
• Inclusive engagement of civil society, women, and youth, especially through support to platforms like Nile Basin Discourse, to ensure that water cooperation reflects local perspectives and equitable outcomes.