CWP Benin promotes IWRM in the Mekrou and Pendjari sub-basins

The CWP-Benin with the experiences of its network in IWRM promotion and strong involvement in the implementation of the "Water for Growth and Poverty reduction in the Mekrou Transboundary Basin" or Mekrou Project and the achievements made, is supporting GIZ in the Phase 2 of the Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Programme (ProSEHA) to achieve the results of component B of the programme.

The programme aims at supporting the population in peri-urban areas to use sustainable drinking water supply and sanitation at affordable prices while respecting hygiene standards in terms of health. Thanks to the funding of this programme CWP Benin organized on 5 to 7 and on 10 to 12 December 2018, two training sessions for local actors from the Pendjari and Mékrou sub-basins on IWRM. The objectives are to facilitate the effective involvement of local actors in the processes of preparing planning documents at the local level and contribute to the implementation of IWRM at the local level.

GIZ supported Phase 2 of ProSEHA’s objective to support the Beninese State in the preparation of planning documents in the Pendjari (Volta Basin) and Mekrou (Niger Basin) sub-basins with the aim of promoting IWRM in both sub-basins.

About eighty communal actors (water and sanitation technicians from the communes of the two sub-basins, decentralized structures of the State, local elected officials, NGOs, socio-professional organizations/users concerned by these sub-basins) have acquired a better knowledge of the IWRM approach and the state of its implementation in Benin and the prospects; have taken ownership of the legal and institutional framework of IWRM in Benin on the one hand; and the process of integrating IWRM into local planning on the other hand and finally, have a better knowledge of the water resources situation in the two sub-basins of Pendjari and Mékrou, and have a general highlight of the issues and challenges of water management at the local level.

These actors are now experienced for their strong involvement in the continuation of the processes to be carried out in these two sub-basins for implementing IWRM.