I t is still uncertain how society and business will be affected across Africa as the continent’s water resources come under increasing pressure and rainfall becomes more erratic, according to a recently released World Bank book “Uncharted Waters, the New Economics of Water Scarcity and Variability”. In their foreword the authors state that it was drought that first forced early humans to move out of Africa into the wetter northern climes. A new era of water shortages brought about by a combination of population growth and climate change will have a direct impact on the logistics chains in the affected countries. “While the private sector’s reliance on transport and energy infrastructure is well established, little is known about the significance of water to firms,” state the authors. Sub-Saharan Africa is one of regions highlighted as being highly vulnerable to “rainfall shocks,” because 90% of the rural population is dependent on agriculture as a source of income.
