Assessment of Rainwater Harvesting Potentiality in the Blue Nile Basin Based on Open-Access Data

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Water scarcity often arises from undesirable rainfall patterns, particularly affecting arid and semi-arid regions (ASARs). Farmers in these areas, reliant on rainfed agriculture, face challenges due to unstable climatic conditions, such as irregular rainfall timing and distribution. The growing population and erratic rainfall complicate poverty reduction efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa, where inefficient water management exacerbates food insecurity. Enhancing water availability and sustainable resource management is crucial. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) presents a viable solution to increase water availability and bolster food security, particularly in ASARs. RWH can improve crop productivity and mitigate adverse impacts from changing rainfall patterns, including floods and droughts. Identifying suitable RWH sites is essential, influenced by various biophysical and socio-economic criteria. However, the lack of reliable ground data in developing countries poses challenges for RWH implementation. Advanced technologies like Remote Sensing (RS) and satellite imagery provide new data sources with extensive spatial coverage and temporal resolution. This research focuses on RWH potential and site identification in the Blue Nile Basin (BNB) using a Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) approach and the Curve Number method (SCS-CN) for estimating runoff. The study spans multiple spatial scales, from the river basin to specific sites in Southern Su