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African Desk Established at HPA Hydropolitics Academy Center

• 27.10.2024
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African Desk Established at HPA Hydropolitics Academy Center

 October 23, 2024

Hydropolitics  Association Hydropolitics Academy Center decided to give importance to African studies, taking into account the challenges that Africa faces in many areas such as water resources, water management, transboundary waters, and the increasing role of this situation in the future of Africa and other countries. In this context, an Africa Desk was established at the HPA Hydropolitical Academy Center. The Africa Desk will more closely follow the developments in Africa's transboundary water basins in the areas of expertise of the HPA Hydropolitical Academy Center. It will collaborate with universities and non-governmental organizations in African countries in areas such as education and training , research, joint project development and conferences ,transfering knowledge and experience on basin -wide regional development projects  and  sustainable water management.

Transboundary Watersheds in Africa

There are 63 transboundary river basins and 38 transboundary groundwater basins on the African continent, which includes 54 countries. These basins cover 64% of Africa's total surface area, and transboundary waters constitute 90% of the freshwater resources on the continent. These basins contain water resources that cross the borders of two or more countries and are critical to the continent's water security and agricultural production.

Africa's water resources are unequally distributed across the six most water-rich countries. Central and West Africa have 54% of the continent's total water resources. The twenty-seven poorest countries in terms of water are countries that have only 7% of water.

Approximately 50% of the continent's total surface water resources are concentrated in a single river basin, namely the Congo basin, and 75% of the total water resources are concentrated in eight river basins

The largest river basins of the continent are Congo, Niger, Ogoague (Gabon), Zambezi, Nile, Sanga, Chari-Logone and Volta. They are river basins. Approximately 40% of the African population lives in transboundary river basins.

It is estimated that the population of Africa, which is 1.3 billion today, will increase to 2.8 billion in 2060 and this continent will be the continent with the youngest population in the world.  

 However, there are various difficulties in water sharing and management in many transboundary water basins. In particular, drought, overuse of water resources and climate change increase water security risks in these regions.

Türkiye's Relations with Africa

Turkey has strong relations with the African continent in the fields of economic, political, security, cultural and humanitarian aid. Türkiye put forward the Africa Initiative Action Plan in 1998 and declared 2005 as the "Year of Africa" ​​and took important steps to improve its relations with African countries. During these years, Türkiye-Africa Cooperation Summits were held and various agreements were signed with African countries. The First Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit held in Istanbul in 2008 was a turning point in Turkey's relations with Africa. Turkey was accepted as an observer member of the African Union in 2008 and signed a strategic partnership agreement with the African Union in 2014. .

As of 2024, Turkey has embassies in 44 countries on the African continent. Ankara maintains active diplomatic and economic relations with these countries. Among these countries, Turkey has important strategic partners such as South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Libya and Algeria.

The development projects carried out by Turkey in African countries through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) provide significant contributions to these countries in areas such as health, education, agriculture and infrastructure. Hospitals, schools and water wells built in Somalia, Sudan and Niger increase the living standards of local people. In addition, scholarships and training opportunities provided to African youth through educational and cultural collaborations are among the important steps that will strengthen Türkiye-Africa relations in the long term.

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