27th Session of the OSS Strategic Orientation Committee, Tunis, January 28, 2025
Held on January 28, 2025 in Tunis, the 27th session of the Strategic Orientation…
Status
Closed
Duration of the project
7 years (2018-2025)
Themes
- Joint management of groundwater and surface water
- Improving ecosystem resilience
Total budget
4 300 000 US$
Beneficiaries
Local populations
Local, national, and regional institutions responsible for groundwater and surface water management
Scientific community
Countries concerned
Algérie,
Bénin,
Burkina Faso,
Mali,
Mauritanie,
Niger,
Nigeria
Improving IWRM, Knowledge-based Management and Governance of the Niger Basin and the Iullemeden-Taoudeni/Tanezrouft Aquifer System | ITTAS
Improving the management and governance of the Niger River Basin and the Iullemeden-Taoudéni/Tanezrouft aquifer systems represents a key step in strengthening Integrated Water Resources Management and places the communities on top of the priorities while supporting the resilience of ecosystems.
The combination of scientific knowledge, the joint management of surface and groundwater, and strengthened transboundary cooperation paves the way for balanced and shared governance, serving the sustainable use of common resources.
This effort aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 and its target 6.5 on integrated water resources management at all levels, including transboundary cooperation. At the same time, it contributes to improving the livelihoods and well-being of local communities.
The project covers the entire Niger Basin and the ITTAS aquifer systems, with the GEF technical and financial support and in partnership with regional and national institutions, building a collective commitment towards a shared sustainable future.
Financial partners
- Global Environment Facility - GEF
Technical partners
- Niger Basin Authority - NBA
- UNESCO-IHP
- United Nations Development Programme - UNDP
- United Nations Environment Programme - UNEP
- United Nations Industrial Development Organization - UNIDO
Key Achievements
- Development of a hydrogeological model of flow and pollutant transport, characterizing groundwater-surface water interactions
- Development of an ITTAS Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and Strategic Action Program (TDA/SAP), a GEF process for international water management, identifying transboundary risks and defining priority actions
- Validation and adoption of the SAP and its high-level investment plan
- Implementation of six pilot demonstration projects focused on five thematic areas: i) effective groundwater management; ii) reduction of water mineralization; iii) control of mining, domestic, agricultural, and industrial pollution; iv) adaptation to climate extreme events; and v) joint management of surface and groundwater.
- Creation of a regional database integrating more than 57,000 water points
- Signing of an MoU for the establishment of the Consultation Mechanism for the Shared Management of Groundwater
- Development of a communication strategy and plan at the national and regional levels to enhance the project's visibility and raise awareness among stakeholders about joint water resource management
- Capacity building for senior technicians and national engineers in Database, GIS, Modeling, and Remote Sensing
Our news
Highlights of OSS Participation in COP16, December 2–13, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The participation of the Sahara and Sahel…
OSS Side Event at COP16: Strengthening Resilience in the Sahel through Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems. December 12, 2024
OSS Side Event at COP16: Strengthening Resilience in the Sahel through Multi-…