Abidjan hosts water governance talks ahead of first West Africa Regional Water Forum

Africa, News

ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire (NPA) — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has opened its 13th Ordinary Session of the Technical Experts Committee of the Permanent Framework for Coordination and Monitoring of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Abidjan.

The session, which began on September 22, 2026, brought together representatives of ECOWAS member states, regional institutions, development partners and civil society to assess progress in regional water governance and formulate recommendations for the 6th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee.

According to an ECOWAS statement issued on September 22, the meeting is a key preparatory step towards the First West Africa Regional Water Forum (FREAO), scheduled for September 24–25 in Abidjan under the theme, “Valuing Water to Transform West Africa.”

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The regional body said the forum is expected to focus on strengthening transboundary water cooperation, accelerating the implementation of regional water policies, mobilising sustainable financing and advancing progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.

The technical session was opened by Conservateur Général Elvire-Joëlle Zouzou épouse Mailly on behalf of Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Water and Forests, Jacques Assahoré Konan.

Speaking on behalf of ECOWAS, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), Director of the ECOWAS Water Resources Management Centre, Kouassi Kouakou Alexis, underscored the strategic importance of integrated water resources management to regional integration, resilience and sustainable development.

The meeting is chaired by Senegal through Dr Bacary Fatty.

Dr Boluwaji Onobolu, President of the Sub-Regional Consultative Council on Water Resources (CRCE), called for stronger participation by civil society, women and young people in regional water governance.

The recommendations adopted by the technical experts will be submitted to the 6th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee and subsequently considered during FREAO.

The first West Africa Regional Water Forum is expected to bring together ministers, technical experts, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss the next phase of the region’s water governance agenda.