The Regional Initiative for Water and Environment in the transboundary Mono River basin (IREE-Mono) was officially launched in Grand-Popo, Republic of Benin, on Thursday, January 30, 2025. This project aims to restore ecosystems, improve the living conditions of riparian populations and promote sustainable and coordinated management of the basin's natural resources, while strengthening transboundary cooperation between Benin and Togo.
The project was launched with the presence of authorities from Benin and Togo, technical and financial partners, as well as representatives of civil society and local communities. All interventions highlighted the strategic importance of this initiative for the sustainable management of the Mono basin and the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries.
The Prefect of Mono opened the ceremony by expressing his gratitude to the Beninese and Togolese authorities as well as partners for their commitment to the benefit of the communities of the basin. The Executive Director of the Mono Basin Authority (MBA) insisted on the role of the project as a lever for sustainable and ecological development, emphasizing the need for coordinated management of natural resources.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) restated its commitment to supporting stakeholders by providing its technical expertise and promoting an inclusive and participatory approach. This collaborative aspect was also highlighted by the representative of the Minister of Water and Sanitation of Togo, who recalled the commitment of the Togolese government to reinforce integrated water resources management and promote sustainable solutions to the environmental challenges of the basin. He stressed the need for closer cooperation between the two countries to ensure equitable and efficient management of shared resources.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Water and Mines of Benin, delivered the official launching speech and highlighted the importance of the project to strengthen bilateral cooperation and ensure sustainable management of water resources and associated ecosystems. He also insisted on the protection of the exceptional biodiversity of the basin and the adoption of a participatory (bottom-up) approach to ensure the success of the project.
This five million USD project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is implemented by IUCN and co-executed by the Mono Basin Authority (MBA), the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) and the Global Water Partnership in West Africa (GWP-WA), extends over a four-year period.
The first component of the project is the assessment and planning of water resources as well as the ecological and economic development of the basin. It provides for the implementation of a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA), the development of a Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and the implementation of an investment plan to guide future actions. The second component focuses on building institutional and technical capacities. It aims to consolidate the structures of the Mono Basin Authority and to further involve local stakeholders, in particular the Local Water Committees, in order to ensure more effective and inclusive management of the basin’s water resources.
The third component relates to knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation and communication. It focuses on creating mechanisms for sharing information and raising awareness, with the aim of improving cooperation between stakeholders and fostering decision-making in water resources management.
In addition, the implementation of pilot initiatives for the protection of ecosystems, economic development and adaptation to climate change is a priority of the project. These actions will make it possible to obtain concrete and sustainable results for the benefit of local communities. The implementing agencies are also committed to building the capacities of local institutions and transboundary governance mechanisms, in order to ensure integrated and coordinated management of the basin’s resources.
The kick-off workshop was preceded by the first meeting of the Regional Steering Committee of the IREE-Mono project, which was held on January 27-28, 2025. During this meeting, members of the committee examined and adopted the terms of reference defining their role, composition and operation. They also validated the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) for the first year of the project, thus marking a crucial step for the effective start of the activities.