Turning Earth Observation Data into Water Safety Solutions for Africa
Written by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) January 15, 2025
The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is driving significant progress in addressing Africa's water security challenges through its Digital Innovation for Water Secure Africa (DIWASA) initiative. Leveraging Digital Earth Africa's advanced Earth observation tools and IWMI's customized water data products, stakeholders are tackling critical water issues through innovation and collaboration.
Led by IWMI, DIWASA focuses on strengthening access to and effective use of water data across Africa. The effort, currently in its second phase (2023-2027), focuses on creating and operationalizing data tools. Ethiopia became a key participant and joint stakeholder workshops were held in April and August 2024 to facilitate the development of end-user applications.
These workshops convened 17 organizations, including the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE), and Watershed Management Authority. Participants utilized advanced tools such as the Digital Earth Africa Sandbox, which combines satellite imagery and analysis to provide actionable insights.
Equipped with new data-driven capabilities, the team is now developing solutions to address pressing water safety challenges. After the workshop, four teams were formed to tackle specific problems, with weekly meetings, expert guidance, and collaboration support.
Highlighting this transition, Alemseged Tamir Haile, Senior Research Fellow at IWMI and Leader of Capacity Development and User Engagement at DIWASA, said, “Their work is unlocking the power of digital technology and delivering real, measurable impact. “I'm working on it,” he said.
Implementing innovative solutions
Mapping of irrigated and rainfed lands
For Ethiopia's Ministry of Agriculture, outdated and inconsistent data on irrigated and rainfed lands have long hindered water resource management. Using the Digital Earth Africa sandbox, tools are being developed to map irrigated areas, monitor seasonal variations, and assess water consumption.
“Working on this use case has significantly increased our ability to address water security challenges,” said Mulugeta Melesse, irrigation engineer at the ministry. “We have been plagued by gaps in water and data. Now we can develop efficient water.” You can plan allocations, predict yields, monitor water usage, and even identify areas susceptible to drought and climate change. ”
This research provides proactive water management strategies while supporting long-term goals such as tracking historical agricultural changes.
Monitoring flood-prone areas
In areas such as the lower Omo region of Ethiopia, flooding poses a serious risk. Leveraging tools developed through the DE Africa Sandbox, teams at the Department of Water and Energy are mapping historically flood-prone areas to inform disaster risk management strategies. The approach is based on the CGIAR Research Initiative on Fragility, Conflict and Migration (FCM) methodology and integrates satellite imagery and community input.
Meron Tesfaye, representing the ministry, said: “By analyzing earth observation and satellite data, we have identified previously poorly understood flood-prone areas. This tool will contribute to early warning systems and “Informing design could potentially save lives.” Building resilient infrastructure. ”
These insights are also influencing larger initiatives, such as the World Bank's Ethiopia Flood Management Project, which aims to benefit 34 million people. “Our findings apply to areas like Daseneci Woreda, which are at high risk of flooding and require urgent action,” Mellon added.
Track lake levels and address soil salinity
Additional projects focus on monitoring lake levels in the Ethiopian Rift Basin and tracking soil salinity in heavily irrigated areas. Salinity monitoring tools have already attracted interest from private agricultural companies, helping to identify affected areas and implement soil degradation mitigation measures. Meanwhile, lake level monitoring efforts have implications for broader water resource strategies within the Basin Management Authority.
“We are now making informed, data-driven decisions that benefit the environment, economy and communities. This is about more than data and building a sustainable future,” Melesse said. ''I looked back.
Ongoing support and broad impact
DIWASA's efforts go beyond training and tool development to provide ongoing support through weekly team meetings, expert guidance, and field data collection. Regular feedback from Digital Earth Africa ensures that the tool remains practical and scalable.
While Ethiopia is leading the way, similar initiatives are being rolled out in Ghana, Burkina Faso, the Volta Basin, and Zambia will join in 2025. Community of Practice workshops planned for next year will enable African innovators to share insights and foster collaboration.
Lisa Rebelo, Principal Scientist at Digital Earth Africa, said: “DIWASA is showcasing the power of Earth observation data, digital tools, training and collaboration. The solutions developed address Ethiopia's unique challenges. and is a blueprint for tackling similar problems across Africa by improving agriculture. DIWASA is increasing yields, protecting vulnerable communities, and empowering policy makers with reliable data, paving the way for a water-secure future in Africa.”
For DIWASA stakeholders, this marks the beginning of a transformative journey to solve Africa's water security challenges through innovation and collaboration.
digital earth africa
Related links
Digital Innovation for Water Secure Africa (DIWASA)
Earth Observation News – Suppliers, Technologies, Applications
