This workshop is part of the implementation of the Volta Basin Strategic Action Program (SAP) implementation, through the initiative on “Project Preparation for the Implementation of IFM on the Volta River Basin with its riparian countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Mali and Togo)”. This initiative is implemented by the VBA with the support from the Associated Program on Flood Management (APFM) of the WMO and the Global Water Partnership (GWP), the Water Climate and Development Program (WACDEP Africa) of African Ministers' Council on Water/ African Union (AMCOW/AU) implemented by the GWP.
The initiative is a response of the VBA and Country Water Partnerships (CWPs) of the six countries mentioned above to the frequent flood events. Indeed, the West Africa region has been subject to heavy flooding in recent years. In 2009, floods in the region generated at least 152 million USD of damages across 12 countries. In 2010 more than 2.2 million people were affected by flood events. The most severe event came, however, in 2012 when more than 10 million people were affected by flooding. In Nigeria alone 2.3 million people were displaced. As the trends show, the vulnerability of the region is increasing due to population growth, urbanization, and climate change.
The Regional Training Workshop follows the first phase of the initiative that focused on Flood Management Needs Assessment at the basin level and in countries. The third and final phase of the initiative focuses on the support to the VBA riparian countries and partners in the formulation of bankable projects on IFM to leverage investments and financial resources from Climate finance and other funding mechanisms including Adaptation Fund, Green Fund for Climate, Global Environment Fund.
The initiative is being implemented jointly by the GWP, WMO, VBA, African Network of Basin Organizations (ANBO), and the CWPs of the six riparian countries.