Tunis, December 1, 2025
Growing climate variability, increasing pressure on water resources, and rapidly rising water demands in the Sahel are making integrated water resources management a critical strategic priority. Combining surface and groundwater in a complementary manner is essential to optimizing water availability, reducing population vulnerability, and enhancing the resilience of shared hydrological systems.
Against this backdrop and as part of the NB-ITTAS project, the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) is holding a regional training-of-trainers workshop, which brings together research professors from partner universities and national experts from the involved countries, with training delivered by Cap-Net, an internationally recognized institution in water-sector capacity development.
Throughout five intensive days, participants explore key dimensions of joint water resources management, the functioning and dynamics of aquifer systems; methods for collecting, integrating, and managing water data; tools for planning and implementing integrated water governance at national and transboundary scales; cooperation mechanisms between countries sharing the same resources; and the implications of climate change for decision-making and policy choices.
Grounded in concrete case studies from the ITTAS region, the workshop creates a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in managing surface and groundwater as a single, interconnected system. The involvement of university faculty ensures long-lasting impact, as the knowledge gained will be incorporated into academic programs and transferred to students - the next generation of water managers.
By bringing academic and institutional actors together around a common objective, the workshop contributes to building a regional network of trainers capable of supporting countries in more coherent, collaborative, and climate-resilient management of their shared water resources.