United Nations Radio

A three-day pan-African ministerial Conference pledged Wednesday to promote water development throughout the continent to fully exploit Africa's agricultural and hydro-energy potential.

Pan-African conference meeting

The Conference, on Water for Energy and Agriculture in Africa: the Challenges of Climate Change, in its Declaration noted that water is a key resource to economic and social development as well as to hunger and poverty eradication in Africa, and that food and energy security are prerequisites for the development of Africa's human capital.
The Declaration said implementation of integrated water, agriculture and energy programmes to enhance sustainable development in Africa should be considered a priority.
This involves expansion of the area under sustainable land management and reliable water control, and accelerated investment in water for agriculture and energy.
The Conference declared its support of efforts to enhance clean energy production in the continent, particularly in developing hydropower potential and in strengthening regional power pools.
The Conference, which brought together ministers from 53 African countries, recognized that the challenges faced by the continent concerning food security, achieving the Millennium Development Goals, increased energy demand and combating climate change required all countries to move together.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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