Digital tools and open data reshape water management across Africa

The report starts from a well-documented challenge: increasing pressure on Africa’s water resources due to population growth, climate variability and declining water quality. These pressures are compounded by the limited availability of reliable, high-resolution data on water availability, use and risks. According to IWMI, these data gaps constrain effective decision-making, often forcing institutions to respond reactively rather than plan proactively.

DIWASA, developed by IWMI with support from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust and in collaboration with Digital Earth Africa (DE Africa), seeks to address this structural weakness. The initiative combines Earth observation, hydrological modelling, artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics with stakeholder engagement and training. Its objective is not only to generate data, but also to ensure that African institutions are able to interpret and apply that information in practical water management contexts.

A data-driven approach to water security

At the core of DIWASA is a data-driven framework designed to strengthen the capacity of government agencies, river basin authorities and other stakeholders to collect, analyse and use water-related data. The report outlines a three-pronged approach: the development of water data and tools, the application of these tools through concrete use cases, and sustained user engagement and capacity development.

At the core of DIWASA is a data-driven framework designed to strengthen the capacity of government agencies, river basin authorities and other stakeholders to collect, analyse and use water-related data

One of the central outputs of the initiative is a suite of continent-wide water data products. These include agricultural water use estimates, streamflow data, water accounts and water risk indicators related to floods and droughts. The report highlights that many existing datasets for Africa are either too coarse in resolution or fragmented across institutions, limiting their usefulness for operational decision-making.

To address this, DIWASA has produced crop water use data for both irrigated and rainfed agriculture at a spatial resolution of one kilometre across the continent, covering the period from 2001 to 2021. For selected countries and regions, including Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Zambia, the resolution is increased to 30 metres, allowing for more detailed assessments of irrigation performance and water productivity.

In parallel, IWMI has developed continent-wide streamflow datasets covering more than 650,000 river segments, providing monthly discharge estimates over two decades. These data are made available through the AfriDischarge platform, with the aim of supporting transboundary water management, infrastructure planning and climate risk assessments.

Another key component is water accounting. The report explains that water accounts provide a structured overview of water supply, demand, use and accessibility at different spatial scales. Under DIWASA, water accounts have been generated at national, basin, regional and continental levels, enabling comparisons across time and space and supporting evidence-based policy discussions.

Tools tailored to local realities

Beyond datasets, the initiative has developed a portfolio of digital tools designed to respond to specific water management challenges. These tools integrate multiple data sources and translate complex analyses into accessible outputs such as maps, indicators and dashboards.

Among them is the Vegetable Irrigation for Climate Resilience (VICR) Toolkit, a geospatial framework that identifies suitable areas for vegetable production and appropriate irrigation technologies. The report notes that the tool has already been applied in Mali, Ethiopia, Ghana and Burkina Faso, and is being scaled to additional countries.

Other tools include the Securing Water in Agriculture (SWAG) tool, which identifies areas facing water deficits or surpluses and assesses the potential for small-scale water storage, and the Sustainable Water Resources Development (SWaRD) tool, which evaluates surface and groundwater availability for irrigation within sustainable limits. The Access to Water (ACWA) platform maps water access across Africa by combining travel time to water sources with reliability, seasonality and population demand, while the Climate Data Engine for Agricultural Resilience (CDEAR) allows users to explore climate projections and their implications for water availability.

A common feature of these tools is their co-development with national authorities. According to the report, this collaborative approach is intended to ensure relevance, facilitate adoption and support long-term sustainability once tools are transferred to local institutions.

From data to decisions: use cases on the ground

Scenario modelling and digital dashboards are now used to guide investment decisions and prioritise interventions within budget constraints

The report places strong emphasis on practical applications, presenting a series of use cases in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana and Zambia. These cases illustrate how digital tools and data products are being used to address concrete management questions, from irrigation efficiency to water allocation and permit enforcement.

In Burkina Faso’s Nakanbé Moyen sub-basin, for example, DIWASA is supporting the development of a multi-scale water monitoring dashboard for the General Directorate of Water Resources. By integrating satellite and in situ data, the dashboard aims to inform equitable water allocation in the context of competing demands and climate-induced stress.

In Ethiopia, the initiative has been applied to the Amibara Irrigation Scheme, where high-resolution water accounting and performance analysis have identified inefficiencies in water use. Scenario modelling and digital dashboards are now used to guide investment decisions and prioritise interventions within budget constraints. Additional work in the Lake Tana sub-basin focuses on improving river discharge data through blended modelling approaches, supporting drought and flood risk management.

In Ghana’s Bontanga Irrigation Scheme, DIWASA is co-developing a detailed water accounting assessment to quantify irrigation needs, losses and adequacy, to improve equity and support potential expansion. In Zambia’s Lunsemfwa Basin, water accounting tools are being used to strengthen the implementation of a water permit system by monitoring abstraction and identifying overuse.

Digital twins and data dissemination

The report also underlines the importance of data dissemination. Through its partnership with Digital Earth Africa, DIWASA makes several continental water datasets available via an open, analysis-ready platform. In addition, the IWMI Geoportal serves as the main access point for dashboards, interactive maps and story maps, translating technical data into formats accessible to both experts and practitioners.

Throughout the document, IWMI stresses that digital solutions alone are insufficient without parallel investments in capacity building. Training workshops, user communities, internships and tailored support are presented as integral components of the initiative. The aim is to strengthen data literacy and foster a shift towards evidence-based decision-making within water institutions.