Examining Water Security in the Challenging Environment in Togo, West Africa

Abstract

Water shortages across the globe have increased due to climate change among other factors with negative impacts expected at the river basin level. Anticipating these impacts will help experts act in a timely manner to avoid a future water crisis. As part of addressing the future water shortage impacts on the Togolese community, this paper assessed water security in the context of the global environmental change in the Oti River Basin taking Oti Nord sub-basin (ONSB) as a case study. Key informants' interviews were done with staff from governmental institutions, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations, and private operators. The Improved Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Model (IFCEM) was used for assessing water security (WS). A basin level WS evaluation system including five subcomponents (external environment security, water resources security, water-society security, water economic security, and water-environment security) and 23 indicators related to climate, socio-economy, water availability, and consumption were constructed. The results showed that the water level is very insecure in the sub-basin for the assessed years (2010, 2015, and 2025) with the year 2025 being the worst (expected a decrease of water security by 20% and 1% in 2025 compared to the years 2015 and 2010, respectively). This insecurity is found to be the result of many factors including technical, institutional, juridical, environmental, socio-cultural, hydrogeological, and demographical factors. However, managerial factors such as institutional instability, the inadequacies in water and related sector evolution, and the absence of de-centralized water management structures, the non-operationalization of management organs/financial instruments, and culture (i.e., taboos and bylaws) are found to be key to the study area. The paper concluded that the operationalization of management organs/financial instruments may enable the application of adopted water policies and regulations, which may lead to a sound and coordinated management of the available water resources since this will enable the government's self-investment in clean water provision, data acquisition (potential water available and the estimation of economic driven potential water needs, which are key for any sound development), and a stimulated joined effort from the existing institutions. In addition, the establishment of a sound waste management system and awareness raising, and educative activities regarding water pollution will be of great benefit for this cause.

Assessing Institutional Stakeholders’ Perception and Limitations on Coping Strategies in Flooding Risk Management in West Africa

“…There are few reports on waterborne disease contamination related to flooding events in Togo. Therefore, a study conducted for examining water security in the challenging environment in Togo revealed inadequacies in water quality, and the absence of de-centralized water management structures [ 39 ]. As presented by the authors, this situation of water could render difficult interventions during flooding periods in this area.…”

The Human Right to Water and Sanitation: Using Natural Language Processing to Uncover Patterns in Academic Publishing

“…Lastly, the journal Water (bottom left quadrant) publishes most frequently on Topics 16-Water Security and Supply and 3-Water Research, Governance, and Development. Recent publications include topics on water scarcity and inefficient water usage in the United States [61], the effects of constitutionalizing the human right to water [27], water governance and policy in India [62], water security challenges in Togo [63]. Across each of the top four journals, the multidisciplinary nature of topics is quite apparent which speaks to the importance of engagement with a wide selection of academic outlets.…”

Drivers of change in urban water and wastewater tariffs

“…The new tariff structure aims to reflect the growing cost of producing water and contribute to fund US$ 440 million investment into the country's water and wastewater infrastructure over the next three years (Nyiransabimana et al 2019). The continent's second-highest tariff increase since 2018 at 19.0% was found in Lomé (Togo), where the West African country updated its tariff structure (Yomo et al 2019) by adding a monthly fixed fee of US$ 1.25 for meter rental. Mbabane (eSwatini) is also undertaking a three-year tariff adjustment plan resulting in a 13.6% increase in the combined water and wastewater bill since 2018.…”