Key Basin Project Results
1. Leveraging institutional reform/re-organization of OVMS: This project was catalytic in building a more inclusive institutional structure for river Basin management regionally and nationally. As a result of the project, Guinean representation now spans all levels of OMVS’s institutional structure, national
legislation of Guinea is in the process of being fully aligned with the OMVS’s Water Charter (superseding national legislation), knowledge gaps on the upstream portion of the Senegal River Basin have been filled, and Guinea’s hydrology network has been fully integrated into the existing OMVS network.
2. Mainstreaming environment: The project played an important role in mainstreaming environmental aspects at all levels: from a policy/planning perspective (e.g. TDA, SAP), from an institutional perspective (e.g. new institutional capacities, new staffing additions related to environment and civil
society participation, improved knowledge and data networks), and from a Action Program perspective (sustainable land and water management principles now expected to be mainstreamed in overall Senegal River Basin Master Plan).
Results Indicators
Instrument: Senegal River Water Charter signed in May 2002
INDICATOR 1. OMVS and Guinea harmonize their water legislation in accordance with the existing legislation in the other riparian countries for better management of land and water resources across the basin.
Ratification of OMVS’s Water Charter by Guinean Parliament. As the Water Charter was superseding national legislation, the legal framework of Guinea was reviewed and necessary adjustments were agreed upon in order align national legislation with the OMVS Water Charter, the future regional code of
environment, and pertinent legislation in the other riparian countries. The project accelerated Guinea’s full integration into OMVS – a crucial factor for alignment of the national legislation and for better land and water resources management across the Basin. Guinea endorsed a national working group by ministerial bylaw to oversee the alignment and harmonization process, which is well underway with all revisions and improvements necessary agreed upon in multi-sectoral national stakeholder meetings and supported by the MWRD APL.
The now fully operational and compatible framework for transboundary information exchange and knowledge sharing on the environmental and water resources status of the Senegal River Basin is a major accomplishment compared to the situation in prior to the project when OMVS had no access to information on water resources and processes in the Basin headwaters in Guinea.
Body: OMVS
GEF Project:
OMVS strengthened
The legal framework of Guinea has been reviewed and necessary adjustments have been agreed upon in order align national legislation with the OMVS Water Charter, the future regional code of environment, and pertinent legislation in the other riparian countries.
INDICATOR 2. A Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) is prepared and completedAn impressive and comprehensive Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) was completed, validated and printed (2006) and formed basis of development of SAP. Multidisciplinary teams at national and regional levels were strengthened and linkages to academic entities in the region established and improved. As a result of the project, a fully completed TDA has been published and widely disseminated and detailed maps showing environmental conditions throughout the Senegal River Basin are now available.
An impressive and comprehensive Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) was completed based on the strengthened knowledge base with previous data gaps filled and data now covering the entire Basin.
INDICATOR 2. A Strategic Action Program (SAP) document is completed.A Strategic Action Program was completed based on the findings of the TDA and following an
impressively participatory and qualitative process. The SAP was reviewed and approved by Ministerial Council in Y4 (59th council meeting in August 2008), thus receiving the highest political commitment. The document was published and disseminated on a wide scale.
A Strategic Action Program was completed based on the findings of the TDA and following an impressively participatory and qualitative process. The SAP has received the highest political commitment through its adoption in August 2008 at OMVS’s inter-ministerial meeting. The GEF project represents hereby one of the first successfully completed GEF IW of that nature in the Africa region.
Information sources
IWC6 Results Note (2011), World Bank Terminal Evaluation (2009)
