In Windhoek, on the sidelines of the third day of the ClimSA-SEWA Forum, integrated water resource management emerged as a key issue. Dr MILLOGO Dibi, Deputy Executive Director for Operations at the Volta Basin Authority (VBA), delivered a noteworthy speech on the need to link hydrological forecasts and climate data.
Speaking before an audience of experts, decision-makers and technical partners gathered for a plenary session on the theme of ‘Water and Energy,’ Dr. MILLOGO emphasised the inseparable link between meteorological and hydrological services in the effective management of water resources.
‘In concrete terms, integrated water management is based on several pillars. We cannot manage water resources without considering hydrology, but also without integrating the climate dimension,’ he said.
He cited the example of a concrete tool developed in the Volta Basin: the ‘Volta Alarm’ early warning system, implemented through close cooperation with national meteorological services. This system now makes it possible to predict floods, anticipate periods of drought, and guide management decisions based on future risks.
‘We can no longer separate hydrology from climate in our approaches. These two fields complement each other, and it is only by bringing them together that we will be able to effectively respond to water-related challenges,’ insisted the VBA representative.
This intervention is part of a broader initiative led by the ClimSA-SEWA Forum, which aims to strengthen climate services for sustainable development. The link between water and energy, highlighted throughout the session, serves as a reminder that the energy transition and adaptation to climate change will require better use of scientific data.
Dr MILLOGO Dibi’s message is clear: the future of water management in West Africa depends on our ability to combine knowledge, tools and forecasts. This vision is increasingly shared by the scientific community and could well shape future public policy in the Volta Basin region and beyond.
By Hector NAMMANGUE from Windhoek (Namibia) for Vert-Togo
