ECOWAS Leads Fresh Push for Water Security, Climate Resilience in West Africa By Raymond Enoch
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has intensified regional efforts to strengthen water security and climate resilience, as technical experts, national focal points, basin organisations and development partners converge in Abidjan for a major review of integrated water resources management across West Africa.
The 13th Ordinary Session of the Technical Experts Committee on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in West Africa, holding from September 21–22, 2026, is jointly organised by ECOWAS, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS).
The high-level technical engagement is examining progress in regional water governance while preparing recommendations for consideration by the Ministerial Monitoring Committee.
At the heart of the discussions is the urgent need for stronger and more coordinated approaches to managing the region’s shared water resources amid growing climate pressures, environmental challenges and increasing demand for water across communities and economic sectors.
The experts are focusing on measures capable of strengthening the resilience of West African water systems, with particular attention to local capacity building, nature-based solutions, smart water monitoring systems and improved climate-risk management.
The discussions are also providing an avenue for member states and regional institutions to exchange experiences, technical knowledge and practical approaches that can support more sustainable management of water resources across national boundaries.
The Cabo Verde delegation has actively participated in the deliberations, highlighting the country’s experience and good practices in water governance.
Dr. António Pedro Said Aly Pina, representing the Ministry of Environment and Climate Action of Cabo Verde, reaffirmed Cabo Verde’s readiness to share its expertise with other countries in the region.
He also expressed Cabo Verde’s interest in hosting a future Regional Water Forum for West Africa, signalling the country’s willingness to contribute further to regional dialogue and knowledge exchange on sustainable water management.
The Abidjan technical session is equally serving as a preparatory platform for the 6th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee and the First West Africa Regional Water Forum (FREAO), scheduled for September 24–25, 2026, also in Abidjan.
The regional forum will be held under the theme, “Valuing Water to Transform West Africa,” bringing greater political attention to the strategic role of water in the region’s development and integration agenda.
The progression from the technical experts’ meeting to the ministerial and regional water forum is expected to provide an avenue for translating technical assessments and recommendations into stronger regional policies and coordinated action.
Water governance has become increasingly central to West Africa’s development challenges, with water resources directly connected to food security, agriculture, public health, energy production, livelihoods, environmental sustainability and community resilience.
For ECOWAS and its regional partners, strengthening integrated water resources management is therefore not only an environmental priority but an important component of regional development and resilience.
The Abidjan deliberations are expected to culminate in technical recommendations that will guide the Ministerial Monitoring Committee as the region seeks to reinforce cooperation, improve water governance and build systems capable of responding more effectively to climate-related risks.
With the First West Africa Regional Water Forum following immediately after the technical and ministerial engagements, the Abidjan meetings are positioning water as a strategic resource at the centre of West Africa’s climate resilience, sustainable development and regional transformation agenda.
