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31st October 2011 by edouardboinet      

In Africa and West Africa in particular, there is a need of large hydraulic infrastructures for the development of irrigation, access to energy and more broadly the general improvement of incomes and way of life. Such infrastructures are crucial for economic development and integration of the region. However, they can also be destructive if their realization doesn’t take into account environmental and social aspects, and if it is made without concertation through transboundary basin organization in order not to jeopardize upstream/downstream relationship.

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Contributor(s) : 

International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO)

All Details

Solution's type

Existing Solutions

Keywords

Regional integration, IWRM, assessment of dams’ impacts and benefits, expertise, recommendations, priorization

Main category

technical

Others categories

- Policy

Location

West Africa

Actors

 

The Economic Community Of West African States and its Water Resources Coordination Center (ECOWAS-WRCC) launched the initiatives and the International Office for Water was involved in their implementation.

State of progress

 

The initiatives have been completed. During a regional workshop in June 2011, the 15 countries of the ECOWAS and the Transboundary Basin Organizations (TBOs)of the region approved the recommendations made by the Panel of experts and the prioritization suggested by the International Office for Water.

During this regional workshop, it was also recommended to put in place specific institutional and financial mechanisms, for each selected hydraulic infrastructures, in order to ensure the equitable allocation of costs and benefits

Problem to solve

 

How can the IWRM be improved in the region regarding large hydraulic infrastructures? The solution implemented by the ECOWAS seems to be a relevant answer.

Added-value and cost effectiveness

 

An assessment of existing practices has been made, and recommendations for improvements followed. Large hydraulic infrastructures projects were prioritized. Eight planned dams were finally selected: Adjarala (Mono), Boureya (Senegal), Digan (Gambia), Fomi (Niger), Kaleta (Konkouré), Noumbiel (Volta), Saltinho (Koliba-Corubal) and Sambangalou (Gambia). Recommendations were made, urging countries to improved the regional water governance through common hydraulic infrastructure, with dedicated institutional and financing mechanisms ensuring the equitable sharing of costs and benefits between countries.

Monitoring

 

Are the recommendations implemented? Is the prioritization respected?

Implementation and replication potential

 

Should be interested every regional organizations facing similar needs for dams, and similar worries of their chaotic development.

Key contact institution

 

Innocent OUEDRAOGO

CCRE/CEDEAO Ouagadougou

ino@ecowas.int

 

Alain BERNARD

Head of basins division

International Cooperation Department

International Office for Water (IOWater)

a.bernard@oieau.fr

 

Christophe BRACHET

Project manager

International Cooperation Department

International Office for Water (IOWater)

c.brachet@oieau.fr

Commitments

  • No commitments