CHAPTER 1
Africa’s Emerging Urban Water Challenges
Africa’s rapid urbanization will result in new water management challenges for cities. Over the next 20 years, the urban population of SubSaharan Africa (hereinafter “Africa”) will double (UN-Habitat, 2011). This growth will bring opportunities to capitalize on the potential for economic expansion and challenges to avoid the many social problems, such as expanding slums, associated with unplanned urban growth. Effective water management will be critical in preparing cities to face this emerging challenge. The gap between water demand and water supply is growing. Water demand is increasing at a higher rate than population growth—as income levels of urban dwellers rise and the demands for better services increase—whereas water availability is shrinking due to competing demands from agriculture, mining, and industry and from deteriorating water quality and climate change. Cities also face more flood hazards due to a complex web of land use, solid waste management, drainage, and wastewater management issues. The structure of urban growth in Africa and uncertainties of climate further add to the complexity of the challenges. African cities must sprint in order to stand still to meet the demands of rapid urban population growth. Solving future urban water challenges is essential for growth and poverty reduction. Cities are the drivers of future economic growth through 15