WEST AFRICAN MINISTERS REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND ADOPT STRATEGIC RESOLUTIONS TO ADVANCE REGIONAL WATER GOVERNANCE AHEAD OF THE FIRST-EVER WEST AFRICA REGIONAL WATER FORUM

WEST AFRICAN MINISTERS REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND ADOPT STRATEGIC RESOLUTIONS TO ADVANCE REGIONAL WATER GOVERNANCE AHEAD OF THE FIRST-EVER WEST AFRICA REGIONAL WATER FORUM

West African Ministers responsible for water resources have adopted strategic resolutions to strengthen regional water governance, accelerate the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), enhance cooperation on shared water resources, and consolidate a common regional position ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference. The decisions were adopted during the 6th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee on IWRM in West Africa, organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU/UEMOA) and the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The session forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen water security, climate resilience, sustainable development and regional integration across West Africa.

The high-level meeting brought together H.E. Dr Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, Minister of Water and Sanitation of Senegal and President of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW); Hon. Amin Amidu Sulemani, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation; Hon. Mahamadou Gado, WAEMU Commissioner for Agriculture, Water Resources and Environment; H.E. Jacques Assahoré Konan, Minister of Water and Forests of Côte d’Ivoire; as well as ministers, representatives of Member States, river basin organisations, technical institutions and development partners. Building on recommendations from the 13th Ordinary Session of the Technical Experts Committee, ministers endorsed measures to strengthen governance frameworks, promote sustainable financing, enhance transboundary water cooperation, improve regional water information systems, accelerate progress towards SDG 6, and reinforce West Africa’s common position ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference. These outcomes will guide discussions at the First West Africa Regional Water Forum (FREAO), scheduled for 24–25 September 2026 in Abidjan under the theme “Valuing Water to Transform West Africa.”