OSS taking part on the “Strategic Programme on Groundwater for Water Security and Resilience in Africa 2023–2027” establishment, Lesotho, 20-21 november 2024

The Sahara and Sahel Observatory, represented by Mohamedou Baba Sy, Director of Water Department, took part in the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW) technical Consultation meeting on “Strategic Programme on Groundwater for Water Security and Resilience in Africa (2023–2027)” held on 20 - 21 November 2024, at AVANI Hotels in Maseru, Kingdom of Lesotho. This event is Co-convened with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the SADC groundwater management Institute (SADC-GMI), gathered Regional Economic Communities (RECs), River, Lake and Aquifer Basin Organisations (RLBOs), Researchers, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and National institutions.

The AMCOW Strategic Programme on Groundwater for Water Security and Resilience in Africa derives from the AMCOW’s pan-African Groundwater Programme (APAGroP). As such, it is targeted at accelerating sustainable management and utilisation of groundwater for the socio-economic development of Member States in line with the Africa Water Vision 2025 and Agenda 2063.

 The technical meeting aimed to update logical framework and draft programme document with inputs from key resource persons. Discussions allowed synthetizing inputs to improve the logical framework, as regard impact, strategic objectives, expected results and the workpackages. Four (4) teams were formed to establish the strategy programme. The representative of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory, has put forward its experience in the management of transboundary aquifers, and has been associated with UNESCO, among others, for the drafting of the component related to “Developing and operationalising tools, to raise awareness, support evidence-based decision making and catalyse political and stakeholder buy-in and ownership”.

A timeline was established to produce the first draft of the programme by end January 2025. Then, a joint review and stakeholders consultations will be conducted during AMCOW sub-regional meetings to align the programme with Member States' priorities and integrate groundwater into the post-2025 Africa Water Vision and Policy. The strategy programme will be submitted to the Council of Ministers for adoption on October 2025.