Africa’s once-celebrated network of dams—built to power cities, irrigate farmlands, and store vital water reserves—is facing a crisis that could undermine the continent’s food security, energy supply, and climate resilience.
Experts from the International Water Research Institute (IWRI) at Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) warn that decades-old infrastructure, unchecked siltation, and worsening climate extremes are rapidly diminishing the capacity of these vital water systems.
Speaking to our correspondent, IWRI assistant professors El Mahdi El Khalki and Nabil El Mocayd described a perfect storm of challenges:
“Africa has some of the world’s most fertile lands, but poor water management and the deteriorating state of its dams are jeopardising agricultural productivity,” they said.
The performance of key dams in Nigeria, Morocco, and across the continent has been severely impacted by prolonged droughts and extreme floods, phenomena driven by intensifying climate change.
In Nigeria, fluctuating rainfall patterns and changes in solar radiation have disrupted the operations of major hydropower facilities like the Jebba Dam, cutting into electricity generation and complicating water allocation for irrigation.
In Morocco, the situation is even more dire. The country has endured seven consecutive years of drought, slashing reservoir levels, disrupting irrigation schedules, and forcing water rationing in cities. Severe siltation—caused by deforestation and soil erosion from degraded mountain slopes—has further reduced dam capacity, shortening their operational lifespans.
“The increasing loss of storage capacity due to siltation means less water for farming, less water for cities, and reduced hydropower output,” El Khalki and El Mocayd warned.
Dams are the lifeline for millions of African farmers. Their reservoirs feed irrigation networks that grow maize, rice, vegetables, and other staples. Without them, rain-fed agriculture—which is already risky—is the only option for many communities.
The energy sector is also vulnerable. Many African countries rely heavily on hydropower for their electricity needs. When water levels fall, blackouts become more frequent, increasing reliance on expensive and polluting diesel generators.
Experts caution that the knock-on effects include reduced industrial productivity, higher food prices, and deepening poverty in rural areas.
Despite having well-established dam infrastructure in countries like Nigeria and Morocco, data collection and monitoring gaps are preventing efficient management of these resources. Without accurate, real-time data on dam performance, water usage, and sedimentation rates, planners cannot make informed decisions about allocation, repairs, or upgrades.
The IWRI researchers emphasised that unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential requires a three-pronged approach:
Adapting to climate change through robust water policies and infrastructure resilience.
Managing rapid urbanisation to prevent over-extraction and pollution of water sources.
Accelerating adoption of technology for water conservation, dam monitoring, and efficient irrigation.
To counter siltation, the researchers advocate reforestation of degraded watersheds and the adoption of erosion-control farming practices. On the technology side, they point to decentralised water storage, rainwater harvesting, and small-scale irrigation systems as effective ways to supplement large dam projects.
At UM6P’s experimental farm in Benguerir, these measures have been put into practice, with noticeable improvements in water retention and crop yields.
“At UM6P, our mission is built on one guiding principle: valuing every single drop of water,” El Khalki said. “This is not just an environmental issue—it’s an economic and social one that affects every African.”
The researchers’ message to African leaders is clear: without decisive action to modernise and maintain dam infrastructure, and to integrate climate resilience into water policy, Africa’s ability to feed its growing population and sustain economic growth will be severely compromised.
“Global food security cannot be achieved without unlocking the full potential of African agriculture,” they stressed. “And at the heart of this challenge lies water—the essential resource we must manage better than ever before.”