Representatives from OMVS and OMVG Member States, namely , Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal, as well as representatives of the High Commissions of the OMVS and OMVG, regional organizations and international experts gathered to discuss the current status of transboundary water cooperation in the Senegal and Gambia, Koliba Corubal and Kayanga-Geba River Basins, and opportunities and Challenges Related to Accession to the United Nations Water Conventions. They were informed on the provisions and obligations of both Conventions, interlinkages with regional legal frameworks as well as the advantages to adhering to and implementing them.
Representatives of new acceding countries, namely Senegal, Guinea Bissau shared lessons learnt, and benefits derived from their accession in fostering transboundary cooperation. The workshop provided, therefore an opportunity to share and discuss the Senegalo-Mauritanian Aquifer Basin initiative, which was the subject of a ministerial declaration signed by Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Senegal, and which was supported by the Water Convention Secretariat, Geneva Water Hub and IGRAC.
The countries and Rivers Basins Organizations representatives concluded on the important role of the United Nations Water Conventions in supporting transboundary water cooperation and all member States have been invited to accede.
The workshop was jointly organized by the Water Convention secretariat (UNECE), The Senegal River Basin Development Organization (OMVS) and the Gambia, Koliba Corubal and Kayanga/Geba River Basin Development Organization (OMVG) and the Gambia as host country, with the financial support of the European Union. The workshop also falls under the framework of preparations for the Ninth World Water Forum to be held from 21-26 March 2022 in Dakar, Senegal, one of the central themes of which focuses on transboundary cooperation.