The participants examined the reports of the Budget and Finance Committee, adopted various recommendations, and discussed new projects and prospects for the organisation. The meeting concluded on the importance of diversifying funding and strengthening the role of the regions in GWP governance, with thanks to partners for their ongoing support.
Speaking about representations at global, regional and national levels, the Chairman, Mr Abdoulaye SENE, reported on the attendance at the tenth meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention in Slovenia, highlighting the progress made and the designation of Senegal as the host country for the next meeting in 2027. Referring to other important events, he mentioned participation in the WAEMU meeting on water security, as well as participation in the first Water Week in Buenos Aires. Mr SENE mentioned the financial and institutional challenges facing the GWP network, as well as the efforts made by the Executive Secretariat to anticipate and diversify funding in order to secure the organisation's future.
The Budget and Finance Committee presented its report on its work of 26 and 27 November 2024. The Budget and Finance Committee (CBF) examined various documents submitted by the Executive Secretariat. The CBF noted a satisfactory level of implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the Steering Committee, with all the decisions complied with. The CBF also notes that the work plan and budget for the coming period are in line with the Regional Work Programme 2023-2025, with a budget for activities of €2,122,497.
The Budget and Finance Committee presented its recommendations to the Steering Committee, including the approval of various documents and reports. It suggested that the guidance note on the selection of a regional water ambassador for West Africa be examined in greater depth.
The Executive Secretary of GWP-WA reviewed the initiatives currently being implemented, in particular the new project with the Green Climate Fund, for which national coordinators are currently being recruited in several countries in the region.
President SENE noted the prospects for the GWP, stressing the need to diversify funding and strengthen the role of the regions in governance.
The Executive Secretariat was asked to send a written note to all the chairs of the national partnerships concerning the Green Climate Fund project and the opportunities for participation, and to continue its efforts to support and lead the national partnerships in order to strengthen their recognition at national level. To this end, the members of the PC were invited to support the efforts to mobilise national partnerships for the Green Climate Fund project.
The actions underway must continue, including:
- Recruiting national coordinators for the Green Climate Fund project, in particular for Sierra Leone
- Organising a virtual meeting with members of the technical committee to finalise the guidance note on the selection of the regional water ambassador
- Planning the launch of the good practice manual at an appropriate regional event;
- Holding a virtual meeting on 20 March 2025 for the first session of the year of the GWP-AO Steering Committee;
- The preparation of the 2023 audit report which will be submitted to the participants of this Steering Committee meeting on 20 March 2025;
- Organising the partners' assembly and the second face-to-face Steering Committee meeting at the end of September 2025.
The Executive Secretariat was invited to (i) diversify funding sources by focusing more on project funding; (ii) adapt to changes in governance to strengthen the role of the regions in the overall mechanism; (iii) maintain and strengthen partnerships with WAEMU and ECOWAS for the development of joint initiatives.