Revision as of 08:40, 24 September 2013

Summary

Natural, Historic, Economic, Regional, and Political Framework

Geo-hydro-political Background

Cameroon's varied climate contributes to uneven distribution of precipitation in which areas within the south of the country receive abundant precipitation and the northern areas, along the edge of the Sahara, receive no more than 500 mm rain per year. Reduced rainfall since the 1950s has contributed to lower flows in rivers within the semi-arid regions, but the dense network of rivers throughout the country still provides sufficient water to meet current demand.^[1] However, due to significant climatic differences that impact distribution & precipitation regimes, regional floods, droughts and extended water quality problems are common. ^[2]

Cameroon's rivers drain to four major basins: the Niger, Lake Chad, Congo, and Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic). The Sanaga, Nyong, Cross (Manyu), and Ntem Rivers are the largest contributors to Atlantic drainage. The Benue River is a major tributary of the Niger River. The Logone (Chari) river is a major contributor to Lake Chad. The Dja and Boumba Rivers are part of the Congo Basin.

Because many of these rivers contribute to transboundary basins, management decisions at the local/regional/country level for water resources in Cameroon may have implications beyond its borders.

Cameroon's population is growing at an annual rate of 2.8% ^[2], and is primarily young, with about 60% of the population below the age of 25.^[3] The growing population is contributing to the challenges of increasing and improving sustainable use of the country's natural resources. Awareness of the negative impacts on land, water, and human health due to general deforestation and the aridification of existing agricultural lands have assisted in increasing activities to address sustainable resource management (e.g.: water and land management). Governing water resources in a manner that addresses potential impacts of climate change, the needs of a growing population, and the need to provide equitable access to water and improved water quality across all user groups is a significant and complex challenge.

Cameroon's major challenges for water governance include

• data challenges (gathering and updating quality and quantity information for water), ^[1]
• institutional capacity (political will, capacity building, and mechanisms for monitoring and enforcement),^[1][4] and
• local capacity (education for disaster risk management, care and monitoring of water resources at the community level). ^[5]

Cameroon's government, educational institutions and communities seek to address these challenges, often with assistance from outside organizations, particularly in building institutional capacity for addressing these challenges at different levels. Some specific capacity building challenges include providing education and facilitating empowerment at the local level for flood/drought preparedness while developing the human resources to enable capacity building within the country.

Additionally, Cameroon is working to address building capacity to address water related risks through transboundary initiatives. Disastrous flood outcomes in 2012 spurred cooperation between Cameroon and Nigeria that will address information sharing and coordination on flood control structures. ^[6]

Analysis, Synthesis, and Insight

No ASI articles have been added yet for this case

1. ^ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} World Water Assessment Programme. 2009.The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World.Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 2-5. Cameroon case study [PDF, 3 MB] - http://webworld.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr/wwdr3/case_studies/pdf/Case_Studies_Africa.pdf#page=2
2. ^ ^{2.0 2.1} The National Coordination of the ANCR-NCSA process (2007) National Coordination of the National Capacity Self Assessment Project in Global Environment Management ANCR-NCSA Process. Online: https://www.thegef.org/gef/sites/thegef.org/files/documents/document/ncsa-cameroon-fr-ap.pdf
3. ^ Central Intelligence Agency (2013) The World Factbook 2013-14. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2013. Available online https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html
4. ^ African Development Bank, 2009, Country Strategy Paper 2010-2014 Cameroon. Accessed online September 09 2013: http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Project-and-Operations/CAMEROON_2010-2014%20COUNTRY%20STRATEGY%20PAPER.pdf
5. ^ TCHOUAFFE TCHIADJE, Norbert F. & TCHAMBA, Martin N., "Water Governance in the River Nyong Basin, Cameroon" Water issues/challenges and Climate Change Adaptation in Africa 24-2 Tadjoung, P. (2008) Importance, menaces et perspectives pour la conservation de la faune mammalienne et ichtyologique du bassin versant supérieure de la vallée du fleuve Nyong. Mémoire de DESS en Sciences Forestières, Université de Yaoundé I. 66 p.
6. ^ Ngalme, E. N. Cameroon, Nigeria Cooperate on Flood Prevention. Thompson Rueters Foundation. Accessed 19 Aug 2013 Online : http://www.trust.org/item/20130819082113-2z9lo