GWP Chair Dr. Letitia A Obeng participated in the General Assembly of the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO) in Dakar, from 20 to 22 January 2010. The theme of the General Assembly was “the adaptation to consequences of climate change in basins: tools for action”. The assembly gathered together around 250 participants from all continents.

In Benin, four years of lobbying and workshops culminated in the adoption by the Government, in July 2009, of a new water policy based on the IWRM approach. GWP Benin led efforts, working with parliamentarians, ministries, civil society, local communities and water user organisations, and establishing a task force. GWP Benin also arranged for consultants to review the first draft of the policy and organised a national workshop to validate the final draft.

Speech, in French, at the West African General Assembly, Abidjan 26-28 January 2009

Assemblee Generale GWP WA, Ceremonie d'Overture, Abidjan 26-28 janvier 2009

Ouagadougou, 19 January 2009 – The Global Water Partnership in West Africa (GWP/WA) is organizing its 3rd General Assembly of its Partners on 27 and 28 January 2009 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

In 2008, the governments of Mali and Senegal moved closer towards more sustainable management of water resources by finalising their national IWRM plans. This also means a step towards meeting the UN Millennium Development Goal target on access to clean drinking water.