Background In order to effectively manage and develop water resources, there is an undeniable need to assess the availability, distribution and management of water regarding its quantity and quality attributes; its utilization (both consumptive and non-consumptive) and ecosystem functions. In addition to these, there is the need for a continuous updating of the state-of-the-art techniques for observing and monitoring the entire scientific profile of terrestrial freshwater resources, as well as analytical and management tools to facilitate effective planning for utilisation. This should be complemented with the appropriate measures to address the economic, ecological, political, institutional and cultural aspects of water and its interrelations with the human society. A key limitation to providing the appropriate policy framework for the management and development of water resources in Africa is the paucity of information flow on: - Assessments and monitoring of the resources at national, sub-regional and continental levels, - Research work or experiences gained, in the process of scientific investigation, to improve the knowledge base of the resources This can be attributed to the absence of any effective outlet for the dissemination of such experiences and knowledge on the continent. Most African professionals and researchers in the water sector are in dire need of outlets for the dissemination of the outcomes of their work outside of the continent, with the concomitant costs that come with them (sometimes making it impossible to access such outlets). The African Water Vision refers to the challenge of retaining African professionals in the water sector on the continent once they have been trained. One way of doing this is to provide appropriate incentives and opportunities to motivate them so that the skills they have acquired do not become atrophied from lack of use. In the light of the current drive to meet the Millennium Development Goals and the 2003 World Summit on Sustainable Development targets for water, this challenge needs to be taken up seriously. Introducing the African Water Journal Given the above background, the African Water Journal will be launched during the Pan-African Partnership and Implementation Conference on Water planned to coincide with the close of 2003 as the Year of Freshwater, and expected to be sustained by the African Water Forum, which has as one of its objectives the provision of a platform for sharing and disseminating experiences and knowledge in the water sector within Africa. The Journal shall be open to contribution of papers from all water sector professionals and practitioners in Africa and is intended to provide an outlet to:- - Consolidate and disseminate the growing knowledge and experiences of African national professionals in water resources development and management to help provide a strong foundation for regional and national water policies and plans - enhance the capacity of the professionals and practitioners to directly or indirectly provide effective technical backstopping to the political hierarchy - to facilitate the documentation and sharing of African experiences within Africa and the outside world Eminent Africans who have carved a niche in the academic and professional fields will constitute the Editorial Board of the Journal. The board will ensure that all papers published in the Journal are stringently quality-assured and work towards making the Journal an icon on the continent. All contributed papers to the Journal shall be peer reviewed according to the following criteria: - Quality of Analyses. - Quality of Data. - Completeness of Information. - Consistency in use of Indicators. - Quality of Writing. - Adherence to adapted structure. Thematic Areas To ensure that the Journal contributes effectively to future versions of the African Water Development Report, the premier edition of which is under preparation and expected to be launched during the Pan African Partnership and Implementation Conference, the following thematic areas will be adopted in consonance with the World Water Development Report: 1. Meeting basic needs - for safe and sufficient water and sanitation. 2. Securing the food supply - especially for the poor and vulnerable through the more effective use of water. 3. Protecting ecosystems - ensuring their integrity via sustainable water resource management. 4. Sharing water resources - promoting peaceful cooperation between different uses of water and between concerned states, through approaches such as sustainable river basin management. 5. Managing risks - to provide security from a range of water related hazards. 6. Valuing water - to manage water in the light of its different values (economic, social, environmental, cultural) and to move towards pricing water to recover the costs of service provision, taking account of equity and the needs of the poor and vulnerable. 7. Governing water wisely - involving the public and the interests of all stakeholders. 8. Water and industry - promoting cleaner industry with respect to water quality and the needs of other users. 9. Water and energy - assessing water.s key role in energy production to meet rising energy demands. 10. Ensuring the knowledge base - so that water knowledge becomes more universally available. 11. Water and cities - recognizing the distinctive challenges of an increasingly urbanized world. Management of the Journal The Journal will be produced on a semi-annual basis and will be a joint flagship publication of the following major stakeholders of the African water sector: 1. The African Ministerial Council on Water (AMCOW). 2. The United Nations Agencies organised as UN-Water / Africa coordinated by ECA. 3. The African Water Forum- a professional body dedicated to the Implementation of IWRM in Africa and will bear the main responsibility for future editions of the Journal. 4. The United Nations University INWEH Programme - which has been approached to take responsibility for the publishing and dissemination of the Journal and link it to the planned Water Virtual Learning Centre. 5. African Water Research Institutes and Universities. 6. The African Water Task Force. 7. The Global Water Partnership branches in Africa. Invitation to present papers Papers are hereby invited from water sector professionals and practitioners in Africa along the thematic areas listed above. Papers should be between 6 and 10 pages and written according to the Guidelines for Authors of the United Nations University Press format below (either in English or French): The format (length of abstract, margins, font type, paper type, figures, tables, pictorial elements, references, etc. should be presented. Style Guidelines for Contributors 1. Manuscripts or papers: Should come consecutively paginated, printed from a uniform computer software format (in multi-author works; do not send authors. original conference paper, disks or texts). Please use 12pt font size for ease of editing. Double space all text and tables. Manuscripts should be free from handwritten corrections, staples etc. Full justification, A4 page layout (NOT Letter). Margins: 1.0 top/bottom, 1.25 sides. 2. Bibliographical References and notes: For single author volumes the Press uses a single reference/endnote section at the back of the book. For multi-author or edited volumes, endnotes /references are placed at the end of each chapter. The author/date citation system is preferred. Please double space notes/references. Do NOT use footnotes. Do NOT use references embedded in the text. Incomplete and inconsistently formatted references cause more production delays than any other editing problem. 3. Headings: Please ensure that different levels of subheadings are clear. Do not number or letter subheadings (i.e. provide an actual title). 4. Figures and Illustrations: Please call all graphs, charts, photos, etc. "Figure". All figures other than the author's original work should be sourced correctly. All illustrations and figures should be originals or first generation photocopies. Each figure/illustration (if drawn), should be stored on a separate electronic Þ le on disk. A hard copy of the individual figure/illustration should also be provided. All papers should be submitted before the 22nd of September 2003 to: Stephen
Maxwell Donkor, Ph.D. Papers received shall be reviewed and the authors of accepted papers will be informed by the 30th of September 2003 for appropriate revision. Revised papers are to be submitted by the 30th of October 2003. |