Despite its importance, however, WDM has received relatively little attention from African researchers. To eliminate this absence of research, IDRC launched its Pan-African Initiative on Water in 1994. This book is a direct result of that initiative. Managing water as an economic resource . The failure to treat water as a scarce resource is, according to the author, one of the main causes of today's international water crisis.
Demand management is one approach proposed to solve the problem.
Numerous case studies, taken primarily from reviews by the World Bank and the author's own Overseas Development Institute in London, are presented of measures promoting the more efficient use of water. The book concludes with a discussion on the implications of policy reforms and how they can be brought about. Towards efficient water use in urban areas in Asia and the Pacific . The seminar stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive policy reform aimed at achieving sustainable urban water supplies. This publication is expected to contribute to the promotion of policies and frameworks for more efficient use of water in urban areas.