Lomé, Togo, November 11-15, 2025
The Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), in partnership with the Mono Basin Authority (MBA), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Global Water Partnership - West Africa (GWP-WA), officially launched the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and the Strategic Action Program (SAP) development process, within the framework of the IREE-MONO project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
This workshop marks the launch of a strategic and collaborative process aimed at strengthening the integrated and sustainable management of water resources and ecosystems in the transboundary Mono River basin, shared between Togo and Benin. This initiative is part of the ongoing joint efforts by regional and national institutions to preserve a natural heritage essential to local socio-economic development.
The opening ceremony, chaired by the Secretary General, representing the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Territorial Development in charge of Water and Sanitation of Togo, was attended by the MBA Executive Director, the Director of Water Resources of Togo, as well as representatives from GWP-WA and the OSS. All presentations emphasized the strategic importance of the TDA/SAP process as a tool for analysis, planning, and consultation, enabling the identification of priorities, the pooling of efforts, and the strengthening of transboundary governance of the basin.
Following the launch, capacity-building sessions, due on November 12-14, 2025, will be dedicated to members of the Transboundary Committee and key stakeholders in the TDA/SAP process, in order to provide participants with methodological approaches, analytical tools, and key steps in the process, fostering shared ownership and integrated planning. Hands-on exercises, case studies, and exchanges of experiences will contribute to building the technical and institutional skills necessary for the process's success.
Furthermore, the Transboundary Committee, a consultation and coordination body bringing together representatives from sectoral ministries, local authorities, universities, civil society, and technical partners in Togo and Benin, will hold its first meeting on November 15, 2025, with the main objective of laying the groundwork for effective and participatory transboundary governance in support of the TDA/SAP development. Participants will discuss the Committee's roles and missions, coordination methods, and the operational timeline for the next steps in the process.