Not only water and energy impact positively on food security.The positive impact of water infrastructures on health security was highlighted through the data provided by Norihisa Matsumoto (see below) on infant mortality rate downfall since public water services begun to be implemented.
African paradox was put on the table for discussion: 85% of food is impoted, just 3% of land is irrigated and Africa is the only region in whuch food production declined during last 20 years.
Coupling economically hydro-energy and food-water-health security challenges need to be considered if we want to promote fairer solutions.
As final remarks he stated:
I. Delay in development
of dams and hydropower in Africa can be understood as an opportunity to manage
the integrating basin management to face present and future challenges taking
advantages of lessons learnt from past mistakes, but also from the newest
developments in terms of technical and environmental aspects to promote the
most profitable
and sustainable projects
in benefit of African peoples and their social development.
II. Africa is the
continent where the percentage of transboundary waters are the highest. That
means that planning and integrated river basin management (IRBM) need the most open
attitude from all agents and
stakeholders, and specially governments, in order to reach agreements based on
serious planning processes based on solidarity and reciprocity.
III. The integrated River
Basin Management & Planning must consider sharing benefits and WIN-WIN
policies as key point to reach
really
sustainable master
plans.
IV. New hydropower
project must be considered as multi-purpose projects taking
advantage of financing sources for energy to address other needs as irrigation, food
security , flood control and
drinking
water supply when
there are no
other way to afford the
needed investment to guaranty the
welfare of African people.
