Publications

The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis recommended by the Global Environment Fund has been applied to transboundary waters of the Iullemeden Aquifer System (IAS) shared by Mali, Niger and Nigeria. It allowed identifying three major transboundary risks namely (1) the reduction of resource availability, (2) degradation of water quality, and (3) the impact of variability / climate change.

Recognizing the need for a regional approach for shared groundwater management to face those transboundary risks for which efforts of one country cannot find a sustainable solution, the three countries committed themselves in a process of joint water resources management. Through this process, they plan to mitigate the negative impacts of these risks on their shared groundwater resources.

Through this process, policy and strategy elements for mitigating these risks have been developed as well as communication tools in order to promote an early warning system, a participatory approach to better manage these risks, and finally a mechanism for monitoring transboundary water resources. A Memorandum of Understanding with its roadmap was adopted by the three countries for establishing a consultation mechanism, a legal consultation for a joint management and equitable and rational of their common resources.

The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis recommended by the Global Environment Fund has been applied to transboundary waters of the Iullemeden Aquifer System (IAS) shared by Mali, Niger and Nigeria. It allowed identifying three major transboundary risks namely (1) the reduction of resource availability, (2) degradation of water quality, and (3) the impact of variability / climate change.

Recognizing the need for a regional approach for shared groundwater management to face those transboundary risks for which efforts of one country cannot find a sustainable solution, the three countries committed themselves in a process of joint water resources management. Through this process, they plan to mitigate the negative impacts of these risks on their shared groundwater resources.

The policy and strategy elements to mitigate these risks have been designed to help countries in formulating their policies and strategies accompanied by an action plan in the medium and long term. These elements include the political, socio-economic and environmental dimension. They were developed by conducting the analysis of solutions for each risk examined according to (a) hydrogeological and environmental (b) socio-economic, and (c) legal and institutional dimensions.

To develop this policy at regional level, national legislation on water should be updated taking into account the achievements of the project in terms of the methods and management of transboundary groundwater regimes.

The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis recommended by the Global Environment Fund has been applied to the transboundary groundwater of the Iullemeden Aquifer System shared by Mali, Niger and Nigeria. The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis is a scientific and technical fact-finding analysis based on technical and scientific information available and verified, to examine the state of the environment and the causes of its degradation, focusing on transboundary problems without ignoring national concerns and priorities.

Three major transboundary risks were identified: (1) reducing the availability of the water resource, (2) degradation of water quality, and (3) the impacts of climate variability/change. This required the development of a database with more than 17000 water points, a Geographic Information System and a mathematical model. This model has among other things, highlighted the overexploitation of the resource since 1995 and the interconnection between the Niger River and the aquifers. The immediate, root and underlying causes (including the governance of water) of these risks were analyzed.

The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis is a participatory approach involving all stakeholders concerned with the issue. To this end, it contributes to strengthen solidarity and confidence between them.

This publication presents the main obtained results from the implementation ofthe different components of the project: hydrogeological data collection, analysis, and synthesis; elaboration of a common database and an informationsystem; development and exploitation of the NWSAS mathematical model andthe regional sub-models; establishment of a consultation mechanism for thebasin joint management; socio-economic study; and environmental study.

The present document sets out the principal results obtained through the implementation of the various components of the NWSAS project: Acquisition, Analysis and Synthesis of Hydrogeological Data; Elaboration of the Shared Database and of the Information System; Development and Exploitation of the NWSAS Mathematical Model; and Installation of the Dialogue Mechanism concerning the basin's shared management.

This note has taken into consideration the whole works achieved from July 1999 up to December 2002, for the setting up of the different components of the SASS Project, namely: the Acquisition, Analysis and Synthesis of the hydrogeological data; the Elaboration of the Joint Data Base and of the Information System; the Development and the Exploitation of the SASS Mathematic Pattern; the Setting up of a Concertation Mechanism for the joint management of the Basin.

Following an international competitive bidding process by Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), SEREFACO Consultants Limited was contracted to undertake this assignment on “Mapping, Assessment and Management of Transboundary Water Resources in the IGAD Sub-region Project Covering Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda”. The main objective of this consultancy service was to assess and analyze the water resources, socio-economic and environmental condition of the sub region and come up with a set of strategy, recommendations, and action plans to enable member states to implement and operate an integrated trans-boundary water resources management process. The project focused on acquiring data, information and knowledge to support more sustainable shared water resources management policies and strategies at national and sub-regional levels.

This report aims at presenting the major findings of the assignment and the proposed strategic recommendations and action plans thereof for moving forward with the implementation and operation of IWRM processes in the IGAD Sub region. In particular, the report includes:

A formulation of strategies for enhancing regional cooperation;
A framework and guidelines for regional procedures and coordination mechanisms for information production, dissemination and sharing;
An assessment of water resources in the IGAD Sub-region;
A socioeconomic assessment of water demand and use in the IGAD Sub-region;
An assessment of the key environmental issues affecting the IGAD countries;
Development of a regional database and GIS;
An elaboration of medium and long term capacity building strategies for planning and managing trans-boundary programmes;
The development of a road map for establishing a Transboundary River Basin Organization.
This project was financed by African Water Facility grant made available to IGAD for undertaking the study of the trans-boundary water resources of the sub-region excluding the Nile basin which is currently covered by the program of Nile Basin Initiative. OSS was the Client on behalf of IGAD in this assignment

The Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) is a Tunis-based international intergovernmental organization created in 1992.

OSS specializes in environmental monitoring and natural resources management and operates in Africa’s Sahel-Sahara region. The main themes around which is structured the OSS work reflectthe major challenges faced by the region, including: land degradation, drought and impacts of climate change on ecosystems and populations.