Tunis, 17–19 September 2025
From 17 to 19 September 2025, the Sahara and Sahel Observatory is hosting a writing workshop in Tunis dedicated to the preparation of the second phase of the NB-ITTAS project. This strategic event brings together representatives from partner Sahelian countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Nigeria) with the aim of consolidating an ambitious concept note for the next phase of the project. At its core, this initiative lies the objective of promoting sustainable and coordinated management of groundwater resources, for the benefit of rural populations and the ecosystems that depend on them.
Since its launch in 2019, the NB-ITTAS project (Strengthening IWRM, knowledge-based management and governance of the Niger Basin and the Iullemeden–Taoudéni/Tanezrouft Aquifer System) has achieved significant milestones, thanks to the strong commitment of the implementing agencies of the Global Environment Facility (UNDP and UNEP), the executing agencies (UNESCO and United Nations Industrial Development Organization « UNIDO »), and the joint coordination ensured by the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) and the OSS. Together, these partners have laid a solid foundation for the governance of shared water resources in the Sahel region.
The Tunis workshop marks a pivotal stage in the process. It provides a unique opportunity for stakeholders to engage in collective thinking around the structuring of the project’s second phase, building on achievements from the first while integrating lessons learned and emerging priorities. The ambition is to develop a clear vision, concrete actions, and a coherent roadmap aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation.
During the opening ceremony, Mr. Nabil Hamada, representing the OSS Executive Secretary, commended the active commitment of partner countries. He emphasized that this workshop is not merely a technical exercise, but a foundational moment in the construction of responsible, inclusive, and solidarity-based governance of groundwater resources. He reaffirmed that integrated water resources management is now a top priority to ensure the resilience of Sahelian populations in the face of climate change impacts.
The workshop is taking place in a participatory dynamic, coordinated by the OSS Water Department. Each country presents the status of its ongoing activities and contributes to collaborative working sessions focused on key thematic areas : water, energy, food security, climate change, gender, and sustainable financing. These exchanges also aim to identify potential barriers to future implementation and to propose concrete arrangements for setting up the coordination unit of the Consultation Mechanism, which is to be hosted at the OSS headquarters.
The challenges facing the Sahel region are well known: declining water availability, growing demographic pressures, climate instability, and food insecurity. Nevertheless, these constraints can become drivers of action if regional cooperation is strengthened, innovation is fostered, and financial and technical resources are mobilized efficiently.
This workshop is also taking place within an international context in which integrated and shared water management is becoming a global priority. In this regard, the discussions underway in Tunis will contribute to positioning the NB-ITTAS project as a flagship initiative in cross-border cooperation and climate resilience. By drawing on expertise, leveraging national experiences, and promoting a collective approach, this gathering marks a decisive step towards realizing a unified regional vision founded on solidarity, innovation, and efficiency in water resource management across the Sahel.