The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and regional stakeholders have intensified efforts to strengthen water governance, transboundary cooperation and sustainable financing ahead of the first West Africa Regional Water Forum.
The initiative formed part of discussions at the 13th Ordinary Session of the Technical Experts Committee of the Permanent Framework for Coordination and Monitoring of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), which opened in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on Tuesday.
The meeting is bringing together representatives of ECOWAS Member States, regional institutions, development partners and civil society organisations to assess progress in regional water resources management and formulate recommendations for the 6th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee.
The technical session is also serving as part of the preparations for the First West Africa Regional Water Forum (FREAO), scheduled for September 24 and 25 in Abidjan.
The forum, themed “Valuing Water to Transform West Africa,” is expected to bring together ministers, technical experts, development partners and other stakeholders to examine pressing challenges affecting the region’s water sector.
Key areas of focus include transboundary water cooperation, sustainable financing and effective implementation of regional water policies.
Speaking at the opening session, Conservateur Général Elvire-Joëlle Zouzou épouse Mailly, who represented Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Water and Forests, Jacques Assahoré Konan, stressed the need for coordinated action to ensure effective management of the region’s water resources.
Also speaking, the Director of the ECOWAS Water Resources Management Centre, Mr. Kouassi Kouakou Alexis, representing ECOWAS, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), described integrated water resources management as a key tool for advancing regional integration, resilience and sustainable development.
The session is being chaired by Senegal through Dr. Bacary Fatty, while the President of the Sub-Regional Consultative Council on Water Resources (CRCE), Dr. Boluwaji Onobolu, called for stronger participation of civil society organisations, women and young people in regional water governance.
The technical experts are expected to adopt recommendations for presentation to the 6th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee.
The recommendations will subsequently contribute to deliberations at FREAO, which is expected to establish priorities for the next phase of water governance in West Africa.
The forum is also expected to strengthen regional efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6, which seeks to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
