West Africa

West Africa is heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture, with low productivity and food insecurity affecting nearly 50% of the population. Rapid urban growth has led to inadequate infrastructure and sanitation, causing land degradation and water pollution.

The region is highly vulnerable to climate change. Increasing temperatures, accompanied by erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells and floods, are likely to reduce crop yields with serious implications for food security at a time of significant population growth: West Africa’s population of over 400 million is set to more than double by 2050.

IWMI in West Africa

IWMI works closely with countries in the Economic Community of West African States and regional initiatives to respond to water challenges and priorities. Our partners include national and local governments, research institutes, universities, private sector enterprises, civil society and nongovernmental organizations, farmer associations and development organizations.

IWMI’s work in West Africa focuses on improving water management, agricultural resilience, and climate adaptation. Through initiatives like AICCRA, IWMI helps farmers adapt to climate impacts and improve productivity.

IWMI also enhances irrigation and mechanization through innovation labs for small-scale irrigation, boosting agricultural productivity in water-scarce regions. Digital tools like DIWASA optimize water use, while policy advocacy and social research promote sustainable practices and equitable access to resources. These efforts contribute to building resilience and food security in the region.

Regional representative

Olufunke Cofie

Olufunke Cofie

Africa Director for Research Impact

Contact

For work related to West Africa, please contact our regional office in Ghana.

Contact the media team.

Contact our global HQ.

Projects in West Africa

Latest West Africa news

European Union and IWMI mark successful conclusion of REACH-STR project

The project developed evidence-based solutions to help vulnerable communities in northern Ghana better withstand the impact of climate change …

IWMI signs agreements with key partners in West Africa to advance regional water security  

Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with ECOWAS and Sierra Leone’s water agency signal regional commitment to science-driven water governance …

March-April 2025 Research Journal Roundup 

Roundup of research, journal and other academic articles from March and April 2025 …

IWMI is building Ghana’s climate resilience experts for tomorrow 

Students research the intersection of climate resilience, gender, migration, and social transformation in northern Ghana, and develop skills to drive climate-resilient solutions and make policy recommendations …

Latest West Africa publications

Displaying 4 publications
Development of an operational flood early warning system for Black Volta River Basin, West Africa (09/30/2024)
Development of an operational flood early warning system for Black Volta River Basin, West Africa
2025
More... [DOI]
Unpacking innovation demands for climate-resilient mixed farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: a case of northern Ghana (05/05/2025)
Unpacking innovation demands for climate-resilient mixed farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: a case of northern Ghana
Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 2025
More... [DOI] | Fulltext (1.07 MB)
Estimating water levels in reservoirs using Sentinel-2 derived time series of surface water areas: a case study of 20 reservoirs in Burkina Faso (05/02/2025)
Estimating water levels in reservoirs using Sentinel-2 derived time series of surface water areas: a case study of 20 reservoirs in Burkina Faso
International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2025
More... [DOI] | Fulltext (22.4 MB)
A systematic review of irrigation development and agricultural water management in Mali (04/29/2025)
A systematic review of irrigation development and agricultural water management in Mali
2025
More... [DOI] | Fulltext (1.73 MB)