IWMI Water Policy Brief 40
Citation:
International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 2018. Dams and malaria in Africa: time for action. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 8p. (IWMI Water Policy Brief 40). [doi: 10.5337/2018.211]
Abstract
Malaria transmission – associated with morbidity, mortality and constraining economic development – has been reduced by more than 40% in Africa in the twenty-first century. Large dams, essential to achieving Africa’s development goals, have nonetheless created a set of local conditions that have defied the broader twenty-first century progress. Dams typically increase the presence of small pools of water in which mosquitoes breed, resulting in proliferation of adult Anopheles mosquitoes; the vectors of malaria transmission. Overall, the annual impact of large dams on malaria in Africa is conservatively estimated at more than 1.1 million cases. In the absence of other changes, this cumulative impact is projected to exceed 2 million cases by the 2050s as a result of climate change and population growth. While there is a clear need to better mitigate these infrastructure-driven malaria cases, several tools and approaches for combatting the disease in the vicinity of reservoirs are currently not widely utilized. Predicting the malaria-enhancing effect of alternative dam options – now possible – can enable selection of disease-conscious development paths. Targeted manipulation of reservoir water levels at critical times holds potential to reduce malaria transmission. Ultimately, a range of options for reducing the adverse impacts of water resources development remain to be put into practice in Africa – resulting in avoidable disease burden.
Population pressure and increasing water competition in a changing climate require us to take stock of the availability and use of water across scales. Water availability not only influences farmers’ commercial prospects but also irrigation-related enterprises and agri-businesses. Greater water scarcity could jeopardize irrigation and agricultural markets while excessive water use can lead to declining ecosystems, water quality and soil health. IWMI advises development partners and the public and private sectors on all aspects of water resource availability and use through a variety of advanced modeling and remote-sensing products and tools, including 
The ability of farmers to engage in or expand irrigation depends on the prevailing socioeconomic, ecological and political contexts, which are often complex, non-linear and changeable. Overcoming systemic barriers to farmer-led irrigation development while taking advantage of existing opportunities 
A lack of affordable credit, particularly for women and resource-poor farmers, is one of the main barriers to expanding farmer-led irrigation in low- and middle-income countries. But 
Scaling farmer-led irrigation requires strengthening human capacity and knowledge exchange among all actors and stakeholders involved. IWMI takes an action research approach, working with national and international research institutions, governments, extension agents and public and private organizations to co-develop the scaling ecosystem and strengthen capacity to drive scaling networks and collective action. We support the