IWRM NEWS OiEAU 2021

7 IVORY COAST SUPPORT FOR IRWM IN IVORY COAST ON THE BANDAMA PILOT RIVER BASIN Project stakeholders National partner Ministry of Water and Forests - Republic of Ivory Coast (MINEF) Project team Experts: A. Bernard, M. Boyko, P. Haener, A. Oliveira (VIE) AELB experts: H. Gilliard, R. Marquès Project leader: Z.Dupérier Key information Location National scale; Upstream part of the Bandama River Basin (Kossou Lake) Key words IWRM, Governance, Planning, WIS, Local Water Committee Objectives Consolidation of IWRM governance and planning; improvement of water data management; strengthening of sustainable financing mechanisms; synergy with Water Supply an Sanitation solidarity projects. Implementation schedule 2021-2022: phase I Project financed by Loire-Bretagne Water Agency Outcomes and prospects Main current results The Bandama river basin covers an area of 97,500 km². The project applies to the upstream part, more precisely upstream of Kossou Lake. There are many dams in this area, for drinking water supply, agricultural and industrial activities. The basin is extremely vulnerable to drought, having a major impact (between March and April in particular) on the water supply of the city of Bouaké and the territory’s irrigated areas. Prospects Since February 2021, the OiEau local representative is based in Abidjan. He works in good coordination with the DGRE in the preparation and implementation of cooperation activities, primarily characterized by the technical mission to launch the programme. Detailed project description In January 2021, the General Directorate for Water Resources (GDWR) of the Ivory Coast Ministry of Water and Forestry and the Loire-Bretagne Water Agency launched a cooperation programme for the development of joint actions in the field of Integrated Water Resources Management in Ivory Coast. The upstream part of the Bandama river basin (Kossou lake) is the pilot area identified for the deployment of cooperation. The focus of the work will be the following areas: the creation of mechanisms for the functioning of river basin bodies, the planning, assessment and monitoring of water resources in the basins and micro-basins. Professor Albert GOULA - Director of Water Resource Protection and Management - MINEF What are the challenges involved in the implementation of IWRM in Ivory Coast and more specifically on the Bandama basin? «"First, in the long term and on a national scale, the implementation of IWRM must ensure sustainable access to water for all users. For this pilot project, the objectives are more specific. It should allow for ownership of IWRM issues at the local and national levels. At the local level, by informing, raising awareness and mobilising the basin stakeholders, particularly with the creation of a Local Water Commission. A the national level, however, the ownership of IWRM should allow for the adoption of decrees under the 1998 Law on the Water Code or the adoption of the Water Policy and sustainable financing mechanisms. " The Bandama river basin 7