African Conference on Water : The OSS takes part in the regional consultation and exchange workshop on the Tunisian vision and strategy for the water sector by 2050, Feb. 22, 2023

Invited by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, Mr. Nabil BEN KHATRA, Executive Secretary of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), was accompanied by the Water Department Coordinator and the North Western Sahara Aquifer System Consultation Mechanism (NWSAS-CM) Coordinator, in the regional exchange workshop, organized with the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB), represented by Mr. Abdourahman DIAW, and the KfW Development Bank, represented by Mr. Simone CREMER.

The event was marked by the presence of the Mauritanian Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr. Sidi Oueld TALEB AMOR, and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Water and Sanitation of Senegal, Mr. Boubacar MBOUNDR, as well as several delegations from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Kenya, Senegal and Togo, various ministries and national and professional water structures, and civil society representatives.

The speeches of the representatives of Senegal, Mauritania and the development partners (AfDB, KfW, GIZ, IME), opened the works of the meeting before giving the floor to the address of Mr. Abdelmonem BELATI, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries of Tunisia.

The workshop took the « Water resources management strategies to face the impacts of climate change » study, conducted by Tunisia under the « Water 2050 » project, to open discussions and debates on the experiences of the North, West, East, Center and South African countries, in the development of the Tunisian vision and strategy for the water sector by 2050.

The « Water 2050 » project aims to provide the Tunisian Government with a long-term vision and strategy, broken down into plans of action for the sustainable management of water, a priority for the country lying under the water stress threshold.

It is worth emphasizing the OSS endeavour in meeting the water stress challenges, by establishing exchange and cooperation dynamics between the countries of the region, for the implementation of effective mobilization policies in a climate change context.

The AFD-funded « Water stress in North Africa » initiative, is an example of such an endeavour. It has made it possible to produce regional studies and summaries highlighting the challenges and solutions for a better use of unconventional and fossil water in a climate change context, thus opening up new prospects for better access to water.