Water Scarcity: Understanding the Global Crisis

Water scarcity refers to the lack of sufficient fresh water resources to meet the standard water demand in a region. This can be due to physical or economic factors, with physical water scarcity occurring when there is not enough water to meet all demands, including those needed for ecosystems to function. Economic water scarcity results from a lack of investment in infrastructure or technology to draw water from rivers, aquifers, or other water sources. The African Development Bank has launched the African Water Facility, which provides funding and technical assistance to support water infrastructure development in African countries.