West African water-sector ministers adopt infrastructure plans at meeting

During the fourth session of the Ministerial Follow-Up Committee of the Permanent Framework for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Coordination and Monitoring in West Africa, held recently in Dakar, Senegal, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) members overseeing the water sector asked that more funding be put in place to protect the continent's water resources and build its water infrastructure.

A total of 17 resolutions dealing with water issues were adopted at the meeting, one of which was the Implementation Action Plan of West Africa’s Water Resources Policy. Another provided funding for the region's Water Resources Coordination Center (WRCC).

Other issues brought up by water-sector officials included the need for large dams in every ECOWAS nation and for technical and monetary backing to put national integrated water resources management plans in place in Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria.