How does a master plan contribute to strengthening transboundary water management? A case study in West Africa

ABSTRACT

The first Masterplan for the Gambia River Basin Development Organisation (OMVG) was recently co-constructed through extensive consultation, participatory workshops, and hydro-economic modelling. Regional stakeholders and experts elaborated sectoral plans reflecting national priorities and defined five development scenarios. Participatory modelling led through iteration to agreeing to a sixth trade-off scenario capable of irrigating 64,000 ha, producing 4180 GWh/year of hydropower while satisfying low flow requirements to maintain ecosystem services. Combined with continuous training on water modelling, the development of this masterplan enhanced regional knowledge of water resources and supports OMVG in its ability to make informed water allocation and management decisions.

KEYWORDS:

• IWRM
• transboundary waters
• OMVG
• basin planning
• climate change
• multisectoral cooperation
• West Africa

Acknowledgements

The preparation of the Masterplan was conducted in 2021–2023 by a BRLi-COBA-Idev consortium, with the support of the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD). This process was commissioned by the OMVG High Commission. The Masterplan development is part of the Blue Peace Initiative managed by UNCDF (Lot-1), in partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

In addition to the work of the authors, the development of the Masterplan, and hence this article, was made possible thanks to the work of Thomas Giovagnoli and Julien Verdonck from BRLi, and Nassirou C. Touré of the OMVG Secretariat.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. This methodology was developed by BRli 10 years ago. It is implemented on a regular basis in various hydrological contexts worldwide.