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West and Central Africa

Building on these lessons, the Sahel Irrigation Strategy proposes partners are integrated into the mechanism to ensure continued
concrete, scalable solutions adapted to local realities, aiming guidance and support for any SMAB project. This approach was
to sustainably strengthen food security, stimulate inclusive formalized in a draft cooperation agreement, which was circulated
growth, boost rural job creation, and increase resilience to to the countries following the Ministers’ decision at their meeting
climate risks. These include capitalizing on innovative tools such in 2024.
as remote sensing and water resource mapping to better target
future investments. Scaling up small-scale irrigation development, The Regional Working Group also developed a project
particularly through the sustainable use of shallow aquifers, could concept for SMAB management, which has since served
mobilize nearly 1 million additional irrigated hectares. as the foundational reference for all initiatives carried out
under the SMAB framework. Based on this, 10 priority activities
The strategy sets updated, shared goals for irrigated agriculture, were identified: (i) a harmonized hydrogeological data platform;
adapted to the short term (2035), medium term (2045), and (ii) a transboundary groundwater quality and vulnerability
long term (2055). It represents a unique opportunity for Sahelian assessment; (iii) groundwater management tools; (iv) aquifer
countries to rethink irrigation investments, transforming water recharge management using NBS; (v) operationalization of WRM;
management and agricultural development. (vi) capacity building of Member States in the management
of shared groundwater resources; and (vii) development of a
CIWA supported participation in the High‑Level Forum on Irrigation strategic management plan. In addition, technical assistance is
in April 2025 in Diamniadio, Senegal, which enabled participants to being provided to formulate three core projects from this list for
(i) take stock of achievements, lessons learned, and new challenges consideration within Phase 2 of the DREVE program.
in irrigation since the 2013 Dakar Declaration; (ii) foster collective
action to accelerate irrigation development across the Sahel and
West and Central Africa; and (iii) explore cutting-edge technological NEXT STEPS
solutions to transform irrigated agriculture, including solar-powered
irrigation, water-efficient systems, and digital tools for smallholder With CIWA funding extended until February 2027, analytical work
farmers. The Forum, which saw the adoption of the new Sahel Irrigation will be prepared on how vegetation cover impacts transboundary
Strategy with actionable targets, was attended by Ministers of water resources in West Africa and prioritizing the location of NBS
Water and/or Agriculture and Environment of the six Sahel countries and landscape interventions that would protect water resources
(Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal) and senior and enhance their resilience. This report will inform dialogue and
representatives of Ministers of Finance. The Sahel Ministers agreed drive activities designed for phase 2 of the MPA.
to accelerate investments to develop 1 million ha of irrigated land
by 2035 and to align donor funding with country priorities including With a CIWA‑funded report discussing the urgent need for a new
cross-border irrigation initiatives to harmonize standards. Participation water financing mechanism in West Africa and recommending
from non-Sahel countries included representation from Benin, the development of the West Africa Water Fund, steps will be
Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Guinea, and Togo. A multi-stakeholder taken to create the Fund, which will be designed to accelerate
approach emphasizes regional cooperation and knowledge project development, improve water governance, and promote
exchange to address water management challenges and leverage regional solidarity to unlock the full potential of West Africa’s
regional expertise. water resources.

The Ministers also requested scaling up of the recently closed Technical assistance to the SMAB Regional Working Group will
World Bank‑financed SIIP (through DREVE) and emphasized help finalize the agreement aimed at being signed during the
the need for innovative financing and O&M mechanisms for 2026 UN Water Conference. The draft agreement will be revised
irrigation infrastructure and management of transboundary to reflect the countries’ comments, including those concerning
water resources. the institutional mechanism.

Four national workshops on institutional mechanisms for
Technical assistance to international
data sharing and joint monitoring of SMAB are expected to
cooperation on the transboundary Senegal- be organized in FY26 (in Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea‑Bissau,
Mauritania Aquifer Basin and Mauritania). So far, two online sessions have been held with
Mauritania and The Gambia in June 2025. Additionally, three
During FY25, the SMAB Regional Working Group selected national workshops were scheduled to be held in July 2025 with
and endorsed an option for an institutional cooperation Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania. The workshop for Guinea-
mechanism among the countries. The selected option builds Bissau will be held later in FY26.
on the existing cooperation framework established between the
SMAB countries—namely, the Regional Working Group (comprising CIWA will support participation of DREVE countries in global
high-level representatives of the four Basin states, the OMVS, the fora on transboundary WRM and corresponding dialogue.
Organization for the Development of the Gambia River, and the This included OMVS attendance at the Global Forum in Geneva
Sahara and Sahel Observatory). It also proposed the establishment and forthcoming coordination with the WRG2030 on innovative
of a permanent Secretariat to support both the Regional Working financing for OMVS basin countries.
Group and the Council of Water Ministers and a scientific
committee to provide expert recommendations. Development

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