Conference Information
Dates: 9-11 November, 2020
Theme: Enhancing Water and Food Security through Sustainable Groundwater Development in the SADC Region
- Sub-theme 1: Sustainable Groundwater Use for a Food Secure SADC Region
- Sub-theme 2: The Climate Change Challenge for Urban Water and Food Security: Threats and the Role of Groundwater
- Sub-theme 3: Enhancing the Contribution of Groundwater in the WEFE Nexus through Effective Groundwater Governance at National and Transboundary level
Background:
Parts of Sub Saharan Africa makes little use of its groundwater resources, which contributes only 1% of total renewable water resource withdrawals for agriculture. Projected and continuing changes to the amount, intensity and predictability of rainfall in much of Southern Africa will lead to changes in the way the region views its groundwater resources. Increasing water scarcity will be particularly difficult for smallholder farmers who produce 90% of Africa’s food who haven not access to central water supply infrastructure. Currently, only 6% of the total cultivated land in Africa is irrigated. It has been estimated that irrigation could boost agricultural productivity by 50%. Moreover, population growth and economic development will increase the demand for water across sub Saharan Africa, currently estimated at around 50 litres per capita, compared to 10 times that amount in the USA.The challenges of a dynamic and declining water availability situation will lead to greater pressure to exploit unrealised and little-known groundwater resources, particularly for rural smallholder farmers who will be under pressure from competing water users such as commercial agriculture, urban development and energy production (the Nexus challenge).
This conference seeks to advocate for a more central and pronounced role for groundwater in the WEFE Nexus dialogue as a way of minimising shocks, risks and vulnerability to climate change. The conference will be offered parallel to the 8th Africa Water Week, and also align to the theme of the 8th Africa Water Week. Both the 3rd SADC Groundwater Conference and the 8th Africa Water Week (AWW8) are aimed at rallying Africa’s water sector towards a common voice as the world prepares for the 9th World Water Forum (9WWF) to be held in Dakar, Senegal in March 2021.
Abstract Submissions
Authors are requested to indicate whether the submission is for an oral or poster presentation. Abstracts should:
• have font: Times New Roman, font size: 11, line spacing: 1.5
• have a short title (concise and informative) that adequately captures the scope of the presentation. Authors
are discouraged from using excessively long titles
• be written in English, French or Portuguese
• indicate the authors of the abstract and their affiliations, with the corresponding author clearly marked and
contact details given
• provide the main results, the main conclusion, statement of the problem, objectives, methods, and results
• avoid using abbreviations
• be a maximum of 300 words
• provide keywords for the abstract (up to 5)
The Technical Committee reserves the right to reject or accept an abstract. By submitting an abstract, the authors
commit that at least one author will attend the conference to present the paper/poster if accepted.
Abstracts must be submitted online through the Easy Chair platform. To submit an abstract, follow the instructions below:
i. Click on this link.
ii. If you do not have an easy chair account, please create one as directed
iii. When logged in, enter as an author
iv. Follow instructions on filling out the form (making sure you paste the abstract in the space provided and also uploading the file as a pdf)
v. After submitting your abstract, you will receive an email acknowledging receipt of the abstract.