ABSTRACT
This chapter assesses water security in the Zambezi Basin. It draws on previous work to build a framework that contains five dimensions – environment, basic human needs, vulnerability, agriculture and energy. The chapter discusses the rationale and methodology for the framework. The environmental water requirements are determined by adding the estimated environmental low-flow requirements to the estimated environmental high-flow requirements. Satisfaction of environmental flows was assessed by comparing renewable water resources les gross domestic products withdrawal and environmental flow requirements. The biophysical vulnerability index measures the sensitivity of agriculture to drought. The socioeconomic drought vulnerability index expresses exposure to socioeconomic drought and is measured by the contribution of agriculture to the national gross domestic product and crop diversity. Agricultural water security is assessed using two indicators: water productivity and self-sufficiency of agricultural production. Self-sufficiency in agriculture is focused on a riparian’s reliance on internal water sources to meet its consumption of agricultural goods.
