The Senegalese-Mauritanian aquifer system: a new project being developed to ensure water access for the populations facing climate change »

The "Strengthening the sustainable management of the Senegalese-Mauritanian aquifer system to ensure water access for the populations facing climate change - SMAS" project document validation regional workshop, was organized by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) in Dakar, on November 7 - 9, 2022.

This meeting brought together the parties involved in the project preparation, namely the Regional Working Group (RWG) for trans-boundary cooperation on the Senegalese-Mauritanian aquifer basin as well as various relevant organizations, namely the OMVS, the OMVG, UNEP, ANBO, Senegal GEF Focal Point, the Geneva Water Hub, UNECE, IGRAC, the World Bank, etc.

It enabled the stakeholders to adopt the project document to be submitted to the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and to highlight the need for funding mobilization, the institutional arrangement and the gender plan of action.

The SMAS project aims to strengthen the long-term sustainability of the Senegalese-Mauritanian Aquifer System (BASM made up of Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Senegal) water resources, and to introduce joint surface and groundwater management. through the adoption of the GEF TDA-SAP methodology, combined with pilot demonstrations and capacity building actions. It will be co-executed by the OSS, the OMVS and the OMVG and implemented by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), a GEF-accredited agency.