The ECOWAS Water Resources Management Center  Holds a Technical Retreat on Strategic Planning and Budget Preparation in Conakry

From August 18 to 21, 2025, in Conakry, the ECOWAS Water Resources Management Center  held a technical retreat on strategic planning and budget preparation. This high-level meeting brought together CGRE officials, experts from the Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate (SPME) of the ECOWAS Commission, as well as representatives of the Regional Program for the Integrated Development of the Fouta Djallon Massif (PRAI-MFD). The objective was to consolidate the foundations for integrated and sustainable water governance in West Africa.

Over four days of deliberations, participants finalized the draft 2026–2028 multiannual budget and conducted an in-depth review of the CGRE Strategic Plan 2025–2035. With the technical support of SPME, these exercises ensured better alignment between CGRE priorities, the ECOWAS Vision 2050, and the 2023–2027 Community Strategic Framework. This process contributes to the effective integration of sustainable and equitable water management issues into regional policies.

The discussions also highlighted the major challenges facing the sub-region, including increasing pressure on water resources and the urgent need for enhanced cooperation among Member States. SPME experts supported CGRE in developing strategic tools such as the logical framework, risk analysis, and budget narratives. For its part, PRAI-MFD— a key actor in the preservation of the Fouta Djallon Massif—shared its experience and priorities while directly contributing to the budget preparation exercise. This collaboration strengthened complementarity between the two institutions and laid the foundations for greater synergy in the implementation of regional programs.

The retreat also marked a significant step in the process of relocating the CGRE headquarters to Conakry, in line with the decision adopted at the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held in June 2025 in Abuja. In this context, a visit to the relocation site was organized, followed by a meeting with the Directorate of African Integration. These activities took place in the presence of the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Guinea, further reinforcing the institutional and symbolic nature of this relocation.

In closing the retreat, the Director of CGRE commended the decisive role of SPME and the contribution of PRAI-MFD, affirming that this retreat represents a key milestone in revitalizing the Center. He emphasized the need to mobilize technical and financial partners to ensure the effective implementation of the Strategic Plan and the multiannual budget, in support of sustainable and concerted water resources management in West Africa.

Dakar, July 11, 2025

ECOWAS Relaunches the Sub-Regional Consultative Council on Water Resources (CRCRE) in Dakar

On July 10–11, 2025, Dakar hosted the 1st Extraordinary Session of the Sub-Regional Consultative Council on Water Resources (CRCRE) of the Permanent Framework for Coordination and Monitoring (CPCS) of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in West Africa. This meeting marked the official relaunch of the CRCRE, after several years of interruption, with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation around water-related issues.

The session, chaired by Mr. Baboucar Mboundar NGOM, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Water and Sanitation of Senegal, brought together IWRM focal points from ECOWAS and UEMOA Member States, representatives of river basin organizations, local authorities, civil society organizations, technical and financial partners, as well as sub-regional institutions.

Participants discussed ongoing regional initiatives, including the ECOWAS Special Drinking Water Supply Project, the West Africa Regional Water Forum (FREAO), preparations for the United Nations Water Conference 2026, as well as innovative programs for youth mobilization and capacity building in the water sector.

A key highlight of the session was the unanimous election of Dr. Boluwaji Onabolu, President of FEMinWASH (Nigeria), as Chair of the CRCRE for a two-year term. In her address, she expressed her gratitude and called for collective commitment to revitalize the Council and promote participatory water governance.

The deliberations also examined ways to strengthen the involvement of civil society organizations in the regional IWRM process, with a particular focus on youth, gender, cross-border cooperation, and the sustainability of actions.

The closing ceremony, chaired by Dr. Bakary FATY, representing the Minister of Water and Sanitation of Senegal, praised the quality of the exchanges and reaffirmed the commitment of regional stakeholders to work together to address water-related challenges in West Africa.

Dakar, July 9, 2025

The 12th Ordinary Session of the Technical Committee of Experts (TCE) of the Permanent Framework for Coordination and Monitoring  of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in West Africa was held on July 9, 2025, in Dakar, Senegal.

Chaired by Mr. Baboucar Mboundar NGOM, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Water and Sanitation of Senegal, the meeting brought together national IWRM focal points, representatives of basin organizations, regional and international partner institutions, as well as ECOWAS institutions.

The objective of this session was to review the progress of the regional IWRM process since the Abuja meeting in June 2024, and to strengthen the capacities of experts in programming and preparing investment projects in the water sector, particularly within the framework of climate finance mechanisms.

The proceedings were marked by institutional interventions commending the commitment of ECOWAS, its Member States, and technical and financial partners to promoting the sustainable and integrated management of water resources in the region. Discussions focused, among other things, on:

• The status of implementation of the resolutions of the Ministerial Committee on IWRM;

• The 2025 work program of the CGRE;

• Regional and partnership initiatives, including the Special Drinking Water Supply Project, the Regional Water Observatory, the West Africa Regional Water Forum , and various actions within the framework of the Water-Energy-Food-Environment Nexus;

• The mobilization and training of West African youth around water issues through scientific innovation.

The session strengthened regional dialogue, enabled the sharing of successful experiences, and identified avenues for collaboration to address water-related challenges in West Africa.

The closing ceremony, chaired by the representative of the Minister of Water and Sanitation of Senegal, highlighted the quality of the exchanges and the commitment of the participants.

Done in Dakar, July 9, 2025

Dakar, July 9, 2025

The 12th Ordinary Session of the Technical Committee of Experts (TCE) of the Permanent Framework for Coordination and Monitoring  of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in West Africa was held on July 9, 2025, in Dakar, Senegal.

Chaired by Mr. Baboucar Mboundar NGOM, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Water and Sanitation of Senegal, the meeting brought together national IWRM focal points, representatives of basin organizations, regional and international partner institutions, as well as ECOWAS institutions.

The objective of this session was to review the progress of the regional IWRM process since the Abuja meeting in June 2024, and to strengthen the capacities of experts in programming and preparing investment projects in the water sector, particularly within the framework of climate finance mechanisms.

The proceedings were marked by institutional interventions commending the commitment of ECOWAS, its Member States, and technical and financial partners to promoting the sustainable and integrated management of water resources in the region. Discussions focused, among other things, on:

• The status of implementation of the resolutions of the Ministerial Committee on IWRM;

• The 2025 work program of the CGRE;

• Regional and partnership initiatives, including the Special Drinking Water Supply Project, the Regional Water Observatory, the West Africa Regional Water Forum , and various actions within the framework of the Water-Energy-Food-Environment Nexus;

• The mobilization and training of West African youth around water issues through scientific innovation.

The session strengthened regional dialogue, enabled the sharing of successful experiences, and identified avenues for collaboration to address water-related challenges in West Africa.

The closing ceremony, chaired by the representative of the Minister of Water and Sanitation of Senegal, highlighted the quality of the exchanges and the commitment of the participants.

Done in Dakar, July 9, 2025