Conference: "Water in Africa: Hydro-Pessimism or Hydro-Optimism?"

How are water resources being managed in Africa? What are the main challenges concerning access, distribution and allocation of freshwater resources in the continent? What are the driving forces that shape current and future demand for water? What are the solutions being developed by communities, policy-makers, private sector and environmental activists? What are water scientists and international donor organisations contributing?

Pessimists highlight water scarcity and insecurity, water inequity and the conflict potential at local and regional levels. They forecast a gloomy future for Africa. Can they be wrong? Optimists emphasise the potential of improved water management practices, water policy reforms and socially, economically and environmentally sustainable policies. They argue that local adaptive capacities can be enhanced and regional hydropolitical cooperation can be established. Water optimists believe in windows of opportunity to improve water resources management and that Africa’s water crises can be addressed. Can they be right?

The Centre of African Studies invites researchers and practitioners to contribute with water management experiences and case-studies from the diverse regions of Africa, and to participate in a wide debate on hydro-pessimism and hydro-optimism in the African context.

Call for Abstracts:

Authors are invited to submit an abstract of 250 words by the 30th April 2008, containing the
following information:

• § Proposed title
• § Authors’ names
• § Contact address (institution, email and telephone)
• § Paper proposal
• § Keywords

Presentations can be submitted in English, French or Portuguese. Abstracts will be reviewed by a Scientific Committee, and authors will be notified by email of acceptance or refusal of their proposals by the end of June 2008. Accepted papers can be published in the Conference Proceedings (paper and CD/ROM formats). There are no registration fees.

All abstracts must be submitted via email to ana.cascao@kcl.ac.uk

Contact information	Ana Cascao, Centro de Estudos Africanos, Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto: Via Panorâmica s/n 4150-564 Porto – Portugal (email: ana.cascao@kcl.ac.uk ; ceaup@letras.up.pt) Phone: /Fax: +351 22 607 71 41
Event type	Conference
File link	../PDF/CEA_WaterConference2008
Source	Centre of African Studies - Porto, Portugal
Subject(s)	HYDRAULICS - HYDROLOGY , NATURAL MEDIUM , POLICY-WATER POLICY AND WATER MANAGEMENT
Geographical coverage	Portugal
Address	Centre of African Studies - Porto, Portugal
Organizer	Centre of African Studies - Porto, Portugal
Target audience	International
Period	[02/10/2008 - 03/10/2008]
Status	Confirmed
Working language(s)	ENGLISH , FRENCH , PORTUGUESE

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