The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has called for stronger government support and collaboration to enhance climate change adaptation and water management across West and Central Africa.
Prof. Kehinde Ogunjobi, IWMI’s Regional Representative for West and Central Africa, made the call during a side event at the International Conference on Climate Change and Just Energy Transition (I3C-JET 2025) on Monday in Abuja.
The conference was held under the theme “Sustainable Climate Resilience and Just Energy Transition in Africa.”
Speaking at a session titled “From Risk to Resilience – Climate Change Adaptation in Land and Water Management for Improved Agricultural Productivity,” Ogunjobi said IWMI is a non-profit research organization under the CGIAR consortium.
He explained that the institute focuses on promoting water security, agricultural productivity, and gender inclusion across the subregion.
According to him, IWMI works with ministries, agencies, and development partners on issues related to water resources, climate change, fisheries, and agriculture.
Ogunjobi emphasized the importance of women’s participation in agriculture and noted that IWMI supports smallholder farmers with evidence-based information on irrigation and water management.
He said that while West African governments are making efforts to address the effects of climate change on agriculture and livelihoods, greater commitment is still needed in research, data generation, and capacity building.
“The role of data cannot be overemphasized in addressing climate change and improving agricultural productivity. Governments must increase support for research and capacity building, especially as the impacts of climate change in West Africa are more severe compared to developed regions,” Ogunjobi said.
He noted that limited government funding and dwindling international support, especially from countries like the United States, have hindered progress in the region.
Ogunjobi urged governments to strengthen partnerships with research institutions such as IWMI to develop innovative and inclusive solutions that enhance livelihoods and resilience.
Highlighting the economic toll of climate extremes, he said Africa loses between two and five per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually to climate-related disasters, with adaptation costs estimated at between 30 and 50 billion dollars each year.
He added that IWMI is supporting governments and farmers through innovative practices such as solar-powered irrigation systems, on-farm water management, and hydro-climatic modelling.
According to him, the session aimed to foster partnerships that link policy, practice, and innovation to promote inclusive and evidence-based responses to climate challenges.
Dr. Birhanu Zemadim, Deputy Country Representative and Senior Researcher at IWMI, speaking virtually, warned that irregular rainfall and increasing climate variability are reducing agricultural productivity across West Africa.
Zemadim explained that the region has two main climatic zones — the Sahelian and the Guinean — each with distinct rainfall patterns and crop types.
“The Sahelian zone, which includes the northern and southern Sahel and the Sudanian area, receives between 200 and 800 millimeters of rainfall yearly 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 annually, favoring perennial crops such as cocoa, grapes, and fennel,” he said.
He added that the variation in rainfall across both zones is caused by the seasonal movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which determines the timing and intensity of rainfall.
According to him, rainfall in parts of the Sahel has increased in recent years, showing signs of partial recovery, while the Guinean zone has experienced declining rainfall and shifts in peak rainy periods, particularly in Central Guinea.
He said these changes are disrupting planting seasons and affecting food production in rain-fed farming communities.
Zemadim noted 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.
IWMI, a CGIAR research centre headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, operates in 15 countries, including Nigeria. The institute maintains a global network of scientists in over 55 countries and works with governments, development agencies, academia, and the private sector to advance research-based solutions for sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.
