Plaquette : Senegal River Basin Water Resources en Environment Management project (GEF/SRB) : A new instrument designed to promote development at local level - high Commission

> Senegal River Basin Water Resources and Environment Management Project (GEF/SRB) : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : c ~ . . J 5 t. o 'c ... l, 1 W hen the River Senegal Development Organization was established way back in 1972, its mandate was to exploit the Senegal River basin development potential with special emphasis on the promotion of the irrigation, energy and navigation sectors. To achieve that objective, the Organization initiated the implementation of a major programme of structuring projects that represented the prime movers for the development process and which comprised, inter alia, the Diama and Manantali dams, the Manantali hydroelectric regional complex together with their auxiliary and ancillary structures. However, it shall be noted that the development , process did not have only positive impacts. ln sorne respects, negative impacts have been recorded and OMVS has initiated remedial actions to mitigate the negative impacts of the projects developed thus far. Implementation of the Environmental Impact Mitigation and Monitoring Program (PASIE) from 1999 to 2004 in the framework of the Manantali Energy Project implementation and the adoption of the Senegal River Waters Charter by the member States on 28 May, 2002, evidence the OMVS' will to initiate new strategies in relation to the basin's management. Cognisant of and based on the necessity to combine rafienal management of the basin's resources, preservation of the environment and poverty reduction, the GEF/SRB Project turns out rather timely to build on the achievements made and strengthen the new approach and its implementation strategies. The GEF/SRB Proieci designed 10 help preserve Ihe basin's resources The GEF/SRB project was started in April 2004 for a 4 year term. Its objective is to set up a «Participatory Strategie Framework» aimed at achieving sustainable valorisation of the whole basin's environment and water resources. The basic principle underlying the Project is to help meet ail the requirements of use sectors in terms of water resources and the environment whilst reducing or mitigating the important stress on already highly limited resources The specifie objectives of this programme which is designed to further sub-regional cooperation in the management of transboundary resources stand as follows: - Capacity building at regional, national and local levels for the purpose of ensuring better management of transboundary issues, particularly those relating to environmental management ; - Increased involvement of Guinea in relation to the management of the basin's resources and decision making processes ; - Enhanced data and information exchange procedures among member States' technical departments towards building up a wider knowledge base ; - Achievement of a planned environmental analysis for the purpose of carrying out choices with regard to priority actions to be carried out ; - The promotion of the involvement of the civil society and communities in transboundary activities to help them make the best of resources in the basin. The project funding is ensured by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to the tune of US $ 7.25 millions, through its implementation agencies, namely the World Bank and the UNDP. OMVS and Guinea have also contributed for about US $ 0,88 million. The World Bank and UNDP being respectively in charge of components 1, 2, and 3, on the one hand and, 4 and 5 on the other hand have signed in Dakar grant agreements with the OMVS High Commission on November 17, 2003 and March 5, 2004, respectively.