Communiqueseng

Côte d’Ivoire Validates Legal Texts Establishing the Transboundary River Basins Management Office

Webmaster Communiqueseng 01 December 2025

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…

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.

Press release CTE

Webmaster Communiqueseng 04 September 2025

Dakar, 9 July 2025
12th Ordinary Session of the Technical Committee of Experts (CTE) of the Permanent Coordination and Monitoring Framework (CPCS) for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in West Africa

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

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

The proceedings featured institutional statements commending the commitment of ECOWAS, its Member States, and technical and financial partners to promoting sustainable and integrated water resources management in the region. Discussions focused, among others, on:

The status of implementation of the Ministerial Committee on IWRM resolutions;
The 2025 work program of the CGRE;
Regional and partnership initiatives, including the ECOWAS Special Project on Drinking Water Supply, the Regional Water Observatory, the West Africa Regional Water Forum (FREAO), and various actions under the Water-Energy-Food-Environment Nexus;
The mobilization and training of West African youth on water issues through scientific innovation.

The session strengthened regional consultation, provided a platform for sharing 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, praised the quality of the discussions and the commitment of the participants.

Done in Dakar, 9 July 2025

Press release CRCRE

Webmaster Communiqueseng 04 September 2025

Dakar, 11 July 2025
ECOWAS Revives the Sub-Regional Consultation Council on Water Resources in Dakar

On 10–11 July 2025, Dakar hosted the 1st Extraordinary Session of the Sub-Regional Consultation Council on Water Resources (CRCRE) under the Permanent Coordination and Monitoring Framework (CPCS) for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in West Africa. This meeting marks the official revival of the CRCRE, after several years of interruption, with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation on 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 Project on Drinking Water Supply, the West Africa Regional Water Forum (FREAO), preparations for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, and innovative programs for youth engagement and training in the water sector.

A 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 remarks, she expressed her gratitude and called for collective commitment to revitalize the Council and promote participatory water governance.

The deliberations also focused on ways to strengthen the involvement of civil society organizations in the regional IWRM process, with particular emphasis on youth, gender, transboundary cooperation, and the sustainability of actions.

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