In a region where rain-fed agriculture is the cornerstone of livelihoods, climate change is rapidly altering East Africa’s water future. With more frequent droughts, erratic rainfall, and devastating floods, water is no longer a guarantee — it’s a growing uncertainty. During the inaugural CGIAR Science Week held in Nairobi, leaders, researchers, and partners converged to explore how science can safeguard water sustainability and unlock new opportunities for the region’s development.
East Africa — covering Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, and Eritrea — faces an urgent need to reimagine how it uses, manages, and conserves water. The stakes are high. Agriculture in this region is predominantly rain-dependent, and when rains fail, entire value chains suffer — from crop yields and livestock to food prices and household incomes.
Science Week, hosted by the CGIAR — the world’s largest agricultural research network — served as a high-level platform to align strategies, research, and action in addressing water-related challenges. The conversations made one thing clear: water must be treated as a cross-cutting resource central to food security, climate adaptation, and economic development.
A pivotal moment of the event was the launch of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Strategy 2024–2030, a bold roadmap designed to strengthen water security across the region. The strategy emphasizes that water challenges are interconnected — cutting across agriculture, health, energy, and ecosystems. Therefore, solutions must be systemic, inclusive, and built on strong scientific foundations.
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The new IWMI strategy introduces a shift in how water issues are approached. Rather than treating water access and conservation as isolated goals, it positions water as a lever to transform entire systems. The strategy promotes integrated water resource management, improved water quality, equitable access, and climate-smart irrigation. Its overarching goal is to ensure that people, nature, and economies can all thrive together — even in the face of mounting climate pressures.
Importantly, the strategy doesn’t stop at theory. It is grounded in application — from introducing water-saving technologies on small farms to supporting policy reform and infrastructure investment. It also prioritizes building partnerships across the public and private sectors to scale proven innovations.
One of the key themes emerging from the discussions was the centrality of irrigation in building resilience. With erratic rainfall patterns threatening food security, there is growing momentum around expanding irrigation to reduce vulnerability. Stakeholders underscored that irrigation is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity for survival and stability in the region.
Institutions like the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have invested significantly in water and irrigation management globally, with more than 100 projects across various regions. In East Africa alone, IFAD has supported 14 projects in 12 countries, helping smallholder farmers improve productivity and adapt to a changing climate. The focus now is on modernizing irrigation infrastructure, strengthening water governance, and improving data systems — particularly water accounting and irrigation performance assessment.
Water accounting, often overlooked, was highlighted as a game-changer in ensuring efficient water use. Understanding how much water is available, how it is used, and where it is lost can inform better decisions on where to invest, how to allocate water fairly, and how to optimize its use for different crops and communities.
In Kenya, the national government has set its sights on scaling up irrigation through the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP). Currently, only 4% of Kenya’s arable land is under irrigation. Yet the country holds an irrigation potential of approximately 3.5 million acres. Under the NISIP framework, the target is to increase the land under irrigation to 1 million acres. This expansion is expected to enhance food production, reduce reliance on imports, and generate employment — especially among youth and rural populations.
However, the challenge lies not in water availability, but in economic capacity. Kenya has the natural water resources to scale irrigation, but lacks the financial muscle to roll out large-scale projects. That’s where regional and global partnerships become crucial. Coordinated investment from governments, development partners, and the private sector is essential to unlock these opportunities and ensure long-term sustainability.
The CGIAR Science Week also created space for meaningful dialogue on the interface between science and policy. Speakers emphasized the importance of aligning national policies with research-backed strategies and technologies. Many African countries have already developed water policies and legal frameworks, but the effectiveness of these measures often remains difficult to measure. Strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems, as well as fostering accountability in water governance, will be vital in turning policy into real impact.
Farmers, especially smallholders, were placed at the center of these discussions. They are the frontline stewards of water resources — yet often lack access to the tools, knowledge, and infrastructure needed to manage water effectively. Providing them with practical solutions, such as crop-specific irrigation guidelines, water-efficient technologies, and training, can dramatically improve outcomes and reduce waste.
Moreover, water competition is intensifying. With urban expansion, industrial growth, and environmental demands putting additional pressure on limited resources, the need for a coordinated, data-driven approach to water sharing has never been greater. CGIAR Science Week made it clear that achieving water security requires collaboration — across borders, sectors, and disciplines.
In the face of growing climate shocks, the region’s water future hinges on smart investment, inclusive policies, and innovation grounded in science. The IWMI strategy, coupled with the momentum generated during CGIAR Science Week, offers a timely and actionable path forward.
As the climate crisis continues to unfold, East Africa has a unique opportunity to harness water not just as a resource, but as a foundation for resilience, sustainability, and equitable growth.
