The GLOWA Volta Project: A framework for water resources decision-making and scientific capacity building in a transnational West African Basin

The Volta River Basin encompasses 400,000 km² within the sub-humid to semi-arid West African savanna zone. The Basin is shared by six riparian states, among which Ghana and Burkina Faso predominate. Annual precipitation averages 1,000 mm, but less than 10% is utilizable due to high evaporation rates. Rainfed agriculture is risky due to unreliable rainfall patterns, contributing to low income levels of Basin residents, who are among Africa's poorest. Expansion of irrigation water use competes directly with hydro-power generation, however, and demand for water to serve domestic and other uses is increasing dramatically. The GLOWA Volta Project, a 9-year scientific study funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research, is conducting a comprehensive, integrated analysis of the physical and socioeconomic determinants of the hydrologic cycle within the Volta Basin, examining the impacts of changes in climate and land use on water resources. The principal objective of GVP is the establishment of a scientifically sound Decision Support System (DSS) for water and land management. The DSS will provide a comprehensive monitoring and simulation framework, enabling decision makers to evaluate the impacts of climatic trends, along with deliberate policies, investments and other interventions on the social, economic, and biological productivity of water resources.