Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – 26 November 2025

The Mano River Union (MRU), in collaboration with the ECOWAS Water Resources Management Centre (WRMC/ECOWAS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with the support of the BRIDGE Programme, held the National Validation Workshop on the Legal Texts Establishing the Transboundary River Basins Management Office of the Mano River Union (TRBMO-MRU) on 25–26 November 2025 at the Ibis Plateau Hotel in Abidjan

1_RAPPORT ATELIER DE VALIDATION…

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This workshop was organized within the framework of the regional process for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in West Africa, initiated following the Ouagadougou Conference in 1998, and aims to strengthen transboundary cooperation for the sustainable management of shared water resources.

Chaired by Ms. Marie-Gisèle YESSOH, Technical Advisor in charge of International Cooperation, representing the Minister of Water and Forests of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, the workshop brought together 28 participants from relevant national technical ministries, as well as representatives of the MRU and ECOWAS.

The main objectives of the workshop were to:

• review, amend and validate the draft legal texts establishing the TRBMO-MRU (protocol, organic text and administrative and financial procedures manual);

• identify national priorities and specificities in line with regional objectives;

• formulate recommendations for the adoption of the documents by the Council of Ministers and the operationalization of the Office.

At the end of the deliberations, participants conducted a detailed article-by-article review of the legal texts and formulated key recommendations to strengthen legal coherence, institutional governance, financing mechanisms and geographical balance within the Office. The administrative and financial procedures manual was recommended for comprehensive revision in order to improve its clarity and operational effectiveness.

The outcomes of this workshop represent a major milestone towards the effective establishment of the Transboundary River Basins Management Office, a strategic instrument for joint management of shared river basins within the MRU area, contributing to sustainable development, conflict prevention related to water resources, and improved livelihoods for riparian communities.

The recommendations from this national workshop will feed into the regional process and support the submission of the validated texts to the competent decision-making bodies, notably the Council of Ministers of the Mano River Union, for final adoption.

Guinea Validates the Founding Texts of the Transboundary River Basin Management Office of the Mano River Union (OGBFT-UFM)**

Conakry, Republic of Guinea — 13 November 2025

A national workshop to validate the legal texts establishing the Transboundary River Basin Management Office of the Mano River Union (OGBFT-UFM) was held from 12 to 13 November 2025 at the Atlantic View Hotel in Conakry. Organized under the auspices of the Mano River Union (MRU), in collaboration with the Water Resources Management Center (WRMC/CGRE) of ECOWAS and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the workshop was supported by the BRIDGE Programme.

A national consultation framework for the sustainable management of water resources

The workshop brought together around thirty participants representing several key ministries: Natural Resources, African Integration, Justice, and National Transition, as well as experts from ECOWAS-WRMC and the MRU.
The main objective was to validate the draft institutional, organizational, and operational texts of the OGBFT-UFM, including the protocol, organic texts, the administrative and financial procedures manual, and the operationalization plan.

Major outcomes achieved

Over two days of work, the participants carried out:

• A thorough review and amendment of the legal texts related to the creation of the Office;

• The adaptation of these documents to national and subregional realities;

• The formulation of strategic recommendations to ensure the effective implementation of the OGBFT-UFM.

Discussions also highlighted the environmental challenges facing the region’s shared river basins, including deforestation, artisanal mining, water pollution, bush fires, and limited institutional harmonization among Member States.

Key recommendations adopted

The main orientations adopted to strengthen cooperative governance of the river basins include:

• Revision of the hierarchy of legal norms and clarification of institutional links between the Office and the MRU General Secretariat;

• Integration of a Water Charter;

• Consideration of innovative climate financing mechanisms;

• Establishment of a regional database and a water resources observatory;

• Creation of national focal structures in each Member State;

• Harmonization of financial contributions in line with decisions of the Council of Ministers;

• Revision of the Strategic Action Plan (PES), with a 10-year horizon and a three-year review cycle.

A strong commitment to enhanced regional cooperation

At the end of the workshop, participants expressed a strong commitment to harmonized and sustainable governance of shared water resources. This national validation marks a significant step toward the effective establishment of the OGBFT-UFM, a strategic instrument for environmental stability, socio-economic development, and climate resilience within the MRU–ECOWAS region.

Liberia Validates Legal Texts for the Establishment of the Transboundary Water Basin Management Office of the Mano River Union

Monrovia, 17 October 2025 — The Government of Liberia, in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission and the Mano River Union (MRU), organized a national validation workshop on the legal texts establishing the Transboundary Water Basin Management Office (TWBMO) of the MRU.
Held from 16 to 17 October 2025 in Monrovia, the event marks a major milestone toward the creation of a regional institutional framework for the joint and sustainable management of shared water resources.

Strong Political Commitment to Regional Water Cooperation

The opening ceremony was chaired by Cllr. Eric B. Morlu, Senior Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Finance and Development, representing the Government of Liberia.
He commended the initiative as “a solid foundation for peace, prosperity, and inclusive growth” within the Mano River Basin.

Mrs. Ama Gborie Foday, Deputy Secretary-General of the MRU in charge of Economic Development and Regional Integration, described the workshop as “a significant step toward establishing a regional mechanism that promotes sustainable, equitable, and cooperative management of shared water resources.”

H.E. Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Liberia, reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to supporting integrated water resources governance as a pillar of peace and regional integration.

Liberia’s Contributions Strengthen the Legal Framework

Participants from various Liberian ministries and public institutions conducted a comprehensive review of the draft legal and institutional texts.
Their comments and recommendations enhanced the clarity and coherence of the documents through measures such as:

• Reorganizing the chapters of the Establishment Protocol;

• Introducing clear institutional reporting lines to strengthen accountability;

• Creating thematic units on Gender and Climate Change;

• Revising the Administrative and Financial Procedures Manual to improve transparency and internal controls.

The contributions of the Liberian stakeholders will be incorporated into the final report for regional validation by ECOWAS and the MRU.

A Decisive Step Toward Integrated Water Governance in West Africa

At the end of the two-day workshop, participants reaffirmed Liberia’s strong commitment to contributing to the establishment of a regional mechanism for coordinated water management.
The creation of the TWBMO represents an essential milestone for water security, conflict prevention, and climate resilience across the Mano River Basin.

Key Facts

• Dates: 16–17 October 2025

• Venue: Murex Plaza Hotel & Suites, Monrovia

• Organizers: MRU, ECOWAS, IUCN

• Objective: National validation of the legal texts for the Transboundary Water Basin Management Office (TWBMO)

ECOWAS/WRMC Launches the Regional Evaluation of Bids for the Construction of Autonomous Water Points (PEA)

Zuma Rock Resort, Nigeria – October 6–17, 2025

The Water Resources Management Centre (CGRE) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is organizing, from October 6 to 17, 2025, an important regional evaluation of bids for the construction of Autonomous Water Points (PEA) in several Member States: Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

This activity is part of the Special SP-WATER Programme, which aims to sustainably improve access to safe drinking water and to strengthen Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) across the ECOWAS region.