Benin in West Africa belongs to the group of Least Developed Countries (LDC) with a low per capita GDP. Its economy is predominantly dependant on subsistence farming (extensive cotton production) and regional trade. The country is drained by a dense hydrographical network made up of seasonal flow rivers and less than 3% of its renewable water resources are currently used.

At the June 2010 meeting of the African Minister’s Council on Water (AMCOW) GWP's work for advancing the water agenda on the continent was recognised. The AMCOW Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) appreciated GWP's contribution and gave GWP an additional mandate to work in four key areas:

GWP West Africa and GWP Ghana organised a regional training for journalists and representatives of basin organisations on the "contribution of big water infrastructures to the sustainable development of countries in West Africa" in Accra, 17-21 May 2010.

As part of the PAWD (Partnership for African Water Development) project, Senegal engaged in a development process for an IWRM Action Plan.

GWP Chair Dr. Letitia A Obeng participated in the General Assembly of the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO) in Dakar, from 20 to 22 January 2010. The theme of the General Assembly was “the adaptation to consequences of climate change in basins: tools for action”. The assembly gathered together around 250 participants from all continents.

In Benin, four years of lobbying and workshops culminated in the adoption by the Government, in July 2009, of a new water policy based on the IWRM approach. GWP Benin led efforts, working with parliamentarians, ministries, civil society, local communities and water user organisations, and establishing a task force. GWP Benin also arranged for consultants to review the first draft of the policy and organised a national workshop to validate the final draft.

Speech, in French, at the West African General Assembly, Abidjan 26-28 January 2009

Assemblee Generale GWP WA, Ceremonie d'Overture, Abidjan 26-28 janvier 2009

Ouagadougou, 19 January 2009 – The Global Water Partnership in West Africa (GWP/WA) is organizing its 3rd General Assembly of its Partners on 27 and 28 January 2009 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.