Abuja: The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has urged for stronger governmental support and partnerships to improve climate change adaptation and water management in West and Central Africa. This announcement was made by Prof. Kehinde Ogunjobi, IWMI’s Regional Representative for the area, during a side event at the International Conference on Climate Change and Just Energy Transition (I3C-JET 2025) in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the conference, themed ‘Sustainable Climate Resilience and Just Energy Transition in Africa,’ highlighted the need for innovative approaches in addressing climate change. Ogunjobi emphasized that IWMI, a non-profit research organization under the CGIAR consortium, is dedicated to advancing water security, agricultural productivity, and gender inclusion in the region. The institute collaborates with ministries, agencies, and development partners on critical issues such as water resources, climate change, fisheries, and agriculture.
Ogunjobi stated that IWMI places a strong emphasis on women’s participation in agriculture and provides smallholder farmers with evidence-based information on irrigation and water management. He pointed out that while West African governments are striving to mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture and livelihoods, there is a pressing need for enhanced commitment to research, data generation, and capacity building.
He highlighted the importance of reliable data and evidence-based information for decision-making among farmers, policymakers, and environmental ministries. Ogunjobi also noted that limited government funding and decreasing international support, particularly from countries like the United States, have impeded progress.
Prof. Ogunjobi stressed the critical role of data in tackling climate change and enhancing agricultural productivity. He urged governments to increase support for research and capacity building, especially given the severe impacts of climate change in West Africa compared to developed regions.
Furthermore, he called on governments to deepen partnerships with research institutions like IWMI to develop innovative and inclusive solutions that boost livelihoods and resilience. He highlighted the economic consequences of climate extremes, noting that Africa loses between two and five per cent of its GDP annually due to climate-related disasters, with adaptation costs estimated at 30 to 50 billion dollars each year.
Ogunjobi added that IWMI assists governments and farmers in adapting through innovative practices such as solar-powered irrigation systems, on-farm water management, and hydro-climatic modeling. He mentioned that the session aimed to foster partnerships that connect policy, practice, and innovation to promote inclusive and evidence-based responses to climate change challenges.
Dr. Birhanu Zemadim, Deputy Country Representative and Senior Researcher at IWMI, expressed concerns over irregular rainfall and increasing climate variability, which are reducing agricultural productivity in West Africa. He explained that the region comprises two main climatic zones: the Sahelian and the Guinean, each with distinct rainfall levels and crop types.
Zemadim elaborated that the Sahelian zone, covering the northern and southern Sahel and the Sudanian area, receives between 200 and 800 millimeters of rainfall annually and supports drought-tolerant crops such as millet, sorghum, and cowpea. In contrast, the Guinean zone, particularly along the coast, records between 1,100 and 2,000 millimeters of rainfall each year, favoring perennial crops such as cocoa, grapes, and fennel.
He attributed the variation in rainfall across both zones to the seasonal movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which influences the timing and amount of rain each area receives. Zemadim noted that while parts of the Sahel have experienced increased rainfall in recent years, indicating signs of partial recovery, the Guinean zone has witnessed declining rainfall and a shift in peak rainy periods, especially in Central Guinea.
These changes, he said, are disrupting planting seasons and affecting food production in rain-fed farming communities. Zemadim emphasized that rain-fed agriculture accounts for about half of all farming activities in West Africa and contributes roughly 25 per cent to the region’s GDP. He urged governments to invest in improved water and land management systems to reduce climate risks and strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers.
NAN reports that IWMI, a CGIAR research center headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, operates in 15 countries, including Nigeria. The institute functions through a global network of scientists in over 55 countries, engaging with governments, development agencies, academia, and the private sector to advance research-based solutions for sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.