SDPU Side Event Supporting Water Security in Africa with the Peaceful Application of Nuclear Science and Technology
On October 15, 2024, CRDF Global, under the Sustained Dialogue on Peaceful Uses (SDPU) initiative and in partnership with Morocco’s National Center for Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology (CNESTEN), hosted a side event at Cairo Water Week titled, Supporting Water Security in Africa with the Peaceful Application of Nuclear Science and Technology, which promoted the awareness and acceptance of the role of the peaceful applications of nuclear science, such as isotope hydrology, in informing water resource management in relation to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation.
The side event featured discussions with experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), CNESTEN, and the National Academy of Sciences and Techniques of Senegal on the role of nuclear tools in water resource management and Morocco’s experience leveraging isotopic techniques. Panelists underscored isotope hydrology’s critical role in sustainable water resource management, enabling countries to better trace water resources, assess groundwater recharge, and address challenges like pollution and climate impacts. They shared examples of isotope hydrology projects in Senegal and Morocco in addition to several regional projects in Africa, some supported by the IAEA, that provided essential data on groundwater recharge, pollution sources, and aquifer dynamics to support countries in making more informed decisions that protect water quality, address overexploitation, and support sustainable water use. Panelists particularly expressed the need to improve understanding of the hydrological cycle, which requires multiple data sources and innovative approaches, such as isotope hydrology, to complement traditional measurement techniques. As climate change continues to drastically impact the global water system, panelists called for greater integration of nuclear techniques with conventional techniques and increased international collaboration to holistically build capacity, increase knowledge sharing, and increase linkages with other partners and organizations to create synergies and leverage available resources such as equipment, human resources, and funds.
During this discussion, the IAEA highlighted efforts being taken under the new Global Water Analysis Laboratory Network (GloWAL), which aims to support data and insight sharing in this space. The WMO added that it is dedicated to supporting partners in developing standards on measurement techniques, data format and exchange procedures. After the panel discussion, CNESTEN moderated a discussion between one of their own experts and the Moroccan Ministry of Equipment and Water to further showcase how isotope hydrology data collected by CNESTEN’s laboratory supports national efforts in water resource management. To read more about the panel discussion please visit: https://sustaineddialogue.com/resource/the-sdpu-at-cairo-water-week-supporting-water-security-in-africa-with-the-peaceful-application-of-nuclear-science-and-technology/
In January 2025, CRDF Global and CNESTEN will host a three-day workshop in Rabat to build on these important conversations. To learn more about the workshop and register, please use the following link: https://sustaineddialogue.com/event/workshop-on-pan-african-water-resource-monitoring-and-data-sharing-with-nuclear-science-and-technology/. CRDF Global thanks the experts who participated in this event and the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt for organizing Cairo Water Week. This event and the SDPU are jointly funded by the U.S. Department of State and the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DENSZ). For more information about this event and the SDPU, go to www.sustaineddialogue.com.
