The Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), and the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) are hosting the 13th session of the Technical Experts Committee on Integrated Water Resource Management (GIRE) in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The two-day meeting brings together national focal points and technical delegations from 15 regional states, as well as representatives from transboundary basin organizations, technical and financial partners, and civil society.
The participants are reviewing the implementation status of regional resolutions and formulating recommendations to serve as the basis for the 6th ordinary session of the GIRE Ministerial Follow-up Committee. The meeting is taking place within the framework of reforms undertaken by Côte d'Ivoire in the water sector, including the adoption of a new Water Code in 2023, the revision of the National Water Policy, and the development of a Master Plan for water resources.
The Director of the ECOWAS Water Resources Management Centre, Kouassi Kouakou Alexis, highlighted the increasing pressures on regional water resources due to climate variability, demographic pressure, and ecosystem degradation. He emphasized that integrated water resource management is no longer just a methodological option, but a necessity for survival and a powerful driver of regional integration.
The technical examination focuses on 14 resolutions adopted during the 5th ministerial session, the revision of the West African Water Resources Policy, and the implementation of two regional directives related to hydraulic infrastructure and shared water resource management, adopted in December 2024. Delegates also noted shortcomings in the follow-up to certain decisions, including the project for the West African Water Fund.
Despite these challenges, progress has been made with the creation of the Mano River Basin Management Authority. The conclusions of this technical session will inform the work of the first West African Regional Water Forum (FREAO), scheduled for September 24-25 in Abidjan, on the theme "Valuing Water to Transform West Africa".
The Ivoirian Minister of Water and Forests, Jacques Assahoré Konan, was represented at the meeting by the Director of his Cabinet, Conservator General Elvire-Joëlle Zouzou épouse Mailly. She emphasized that the meeting is part of Côte d'Ivoire's efforts to improve water resource management in the region.
The 13th session of the Technical Experts Committee on Integrated Water Resource Management is a critical step towards addressing the challenges facing West Africa's water resources. The meeting's outcomes are expected to contribute to the development of effective strategies for managing the region's water resources.
Key points
- The 13th session of the Technical Experts Committee on Integrated Water Resource Management is taking place in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from September 22, 2026.
- The meeting aims to review the implementation status of regional resolutions and formulate recommendations for the 6th ordinary session of the GIRE Ministerial Follow-up Committee.
- The conclusions of the session will inform the work of the first West African Regional Water Forum (FREAO), scheduled for September 24-25 in Abidjan.
