The regional review-capitalization and experience sharing workshop is part of the implementation of the West African Water Resources Policy (WAWRP) and its Implementation Action Plan (IAP) as well as the Common Environmental Improvement Policy (CEIP) of WAEMU. It is also part of the implementation of the IWRM Action Plan 2019-2030 in the WAEMU region.
It was aiming to advance the operationalization and practical implementation of IWRM within transboundary basins to ensure water security and accelerate the implementation of the SDGs in the UEMOA and ECOWAS Spaces, particularly Target 6.5.
The event discussed the progress and constraints related to the implementation of IWRM in the transboundary basins of the UEMOA and ECOWAS areas as well as the lessons drawn from the development of cooperation in transboundary basins. Good practices and success factors of cooperation on shared waters producing shared benefits for the States in the WAEMU and ECOWAS areas were shared, discussed and will be capitalized. Participants also discussed the approaches, tools, constraints and opportunities related to the establishment of innovative and sustainable financing for IWRM implementation by TBOs in the UEMOA and ECOWAS.
The event gathered about forty institutional stakeholders representing
- Transboundary Basin Organizations (LCBC, VBA, NBA, MBA, OMVS, OMVG, Mouhoun Water Agency (Burkina),
- Regional Economic Commissions (ECOWAS, CILSS, WAEMU);
- Other institutions (UNECE (International Water Conventions), UNEP/DHI, UNESCO, BOAD, GWP-WA, ANBO):
- Countries (Burkina, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Sierra Leone);
- some Country Water Partnerships (CWPs) - Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria.
Participants also discussed the challenges and priorities of the West African region.
The meeting was facilitated by GWP-WA and was a proof of great collaboration with RECs and other regional and global partners.
