Nigeria hosts key water resources management meetings for West Africa

Nigeria is set to host the 11th Ordinary Session of the Expert Committee (CTE) and the 5th Ordinary Session of the GIRE West African Ministerial Monitoring Committee (CMS) in Abuja from June 25th to 28th, 2024.

These significant meetings, organized by the Centre for Water Resources Management (CGRE) of ECOWAS, aim to rejuvenate and advance integrated water resources management across West Africa.

The gatherings will see the participation of GIRE National Focus Points from the 15 ECOWAS Member States, Basin Region Agencies, Technical and Financial Partners, and Ministers in charge of Water Resources. This marks a major step forward since the last statutory meetings held in Dakar in November 2015, addressing a period of inactivity in the regional water management process.

The event’s first phase, from June 25th to 27th, will focus on the Technical Committee of Experts (CTE). This committee will review the implementation of resolutions from the previous Ministerial Monitoring Committee session, present the CGRE/ECOWAS activity report for 2016-2023, and discuss the draft program and budget for 2024. Key initiatives and partnerships in water management since 2015 will also be evaluated.

The second phase, scheduled for June 28th, will be the 5th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee (CMS). Ministers will discuss several strategic issues, including the CGRE-ECOWAS Strategic Plan 2020-2030, directives on hydraulic infrastructure and shared water resources, the promotion of new transboundary basin organizations, CPCS reform, and the operationalization of the Regional Water Observatory.

These meetings trace their roots back to the 1998 West African Ministerial Conference on Integrated Management of Water Resources in Ouagadougou, which committed ECOWAS countries to integrated and participatory water resources management. This commitment led to the adoption of the Regional Action Plan for Integrated Management of Water Resources in West Africa (PARGIRE-AO) in 2000 and the establishment of a Permanent Framework for Coordination and Monitoring (CPCS) in 2001.

Expected attendees include representatives from various regional and sub-regional institutions, African regional organizations, and technical and financial partners. The presence of high-level officials underscores the importance of revitalizing the regional GIRE process and ensuring sustainable water management practices.

This event marks a crucial step towards enhancing collaboration and effective water resources management across West Africa, aiming to meet the evolving needs and challenges faced by the region.