The World Bank Group has projected that improved management of water resources in agriculture could generate nearly 245 million long-term jobs—many in sub-Saharan Africa—while helping to feed a global population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050.
This is contained in a new report titled “Nourish and Flourish: Water Solutions to Feed 10 Billion People on a Livable Planet.”
The report warns that current agricultural water management practices are unsustainable and incapable of meeting future food demand.
However, it notes that rebalancing water allocation, improving crop placement, and strengthening trade systems could significantly boost food production while protecting ecosystems and enhancing economic resilience.
“The way we manage water for food will have profound implications for jobs, livelihoods, and economic growth,” said Mr. Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer of the World Bank Group.
Donohoe emphasised that better decisions on crop placement, water distribution, and trade could strengthen resilience and expand economic opportunities.
To achieve this, the report recommends expanding irrigation in areas with sufficient water resources and modernising existing systems—an effort that could require between $24 billion and $70 billion annually through 2050.
It further suggests that redirecting part of the $490 billion governments already spend on agricultural support towards sustainable water management could accelerate progress.
The World Bank Group said it is working with countries and partners to translate the findings into action through policy reform, public investment, and the mobilisation of private capital.
The institution plans to double its annual agribusiness financing to $9 billion by 2030 and mobilise an additional $5 billion each year under its AgriConnect initiative.
“When investments in infrastructure and natural resources, business-enabling policies, and private capital mobilisation come together, the impact can be greater than the sum of their parts,” said Mr. Guangzhe Chen, Vice President for Planet at the World Bank Group.
