ECOWAS and IUCN Finalize the Creation of Transboundary River Basin Management Office at MRU.
By Raymond Enoch
In a strategic pivotal move to enhance regional water management in West Africa, the ECOWAS Commission’s newly appointed Water Resources Management Centre (WRMC) leadership, under the stewardship of Mr. Alexis KOUASSI, conducted a significant two-day working visit to the Mano River Union (MRU) Headquarters in Freetown, Sierra Leone
This visit which took on the 12th and 13th of March 2025 was part of a broader regional initiative put in place in 2024, focused on advancing the establishment of the MRU’s Transboundary River Basin Management Office (UFM).
This office is set to play a crucial role in the management and sustainable use of shared water resources across the MRU member states, which include Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Mr. KOUASSI’s visit emphasized the strong commitment of ECOWAS and its partners, notably the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in supporting the MRU’s efforts to establish the Cross-border River Basins Management Authority (CRBMA). The initiative aims to streamline the management of river basins that span multiple countries, ensuring that these vital resources are conserved and utilized efficiently, benefiting millions across the region.
The collaboration between the WRMC and MRU is crucial, as it marks a renewed focus on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) practices in the region. The MRU’s central role in implementing these strategies is expected to drive long-term, sustainable development, helping the region address challenges such as water scarcity, environmental degradation, and cross-border conflicts over water use.
This visit also highlighted the significance of strengthening regional cooperation in the face of growing environmental challenges, including climate change impacts, which threaten water resources and ecosystems throughout West Africa.
As the MRU prepares to set up the UFM office, the joint commitment of ECOWAS, IUCN, and MRU will be pivotal in forging a unified strategy for managing the region’s transboundary rivers, ultimately fostering peace, security, and sustainable development.
