Ministers from 53 African nations have created a proposal to secure a $65-billion investment for the building of critical hydropower and agricultural irrigation systems across the continent. At the Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: the Challenges of Climate Change conference held in Libya, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) suggested convening a world summit that would seek to find $30 billion a year from key world leaders and governments to exploit the continent’s hydro resources.
Under the proposal, FAO is pushing for a $65 billion, 20-year Blue Revolution water management program designed to explore Africa’s natural resources by providing investment for water control at the village level, extensive irrigation systems, and developing major river basins for agriculture and hydro-energy generation.
Implementation of integrated water, agriculture, and energy programs to enhance sustainable development in Africa should be considered a priority, the declaration said, while noting that food and energy security are prerequisites for the development of