AUTORITE DU BASSIN DE LA VOLTA VOLTA BASIN AUTHORITY Stakeholders participation in the Volta River Basin is there a need for a stronger legal framework? Training on International Water Law in Africa 3-5 August 2015, Entebbe, Uganda Eléonore BELEMLILGA Head of Legal Unit_ ABV
General characteristics International Basin Organisation (6 countries) BENIN; BURKINA FASO; COTE D IVOIRE; GHANA; MALI ET TOGO Creation process: 2004 2006 Signature Convention : janv. 2007 Entry into force of the Convention : august 2009 Population of the basin~ 20 million
General characteristics country Area of the basin (km 2 ) Benin 13,590 3.41 % of basin area % of country area 12.1 Burkina 171,105 42.95 62.4 Cote d Ivoire 9,890 2.48 3.07 Ghana 165,830 41.63 70.1 Mali 12,430 3.12 1.0 Togo 25,545 6.41 45.0 Total 398,390 100
The Volta Basin convention Principles of the convention: Equitable and reasonable utilization and participation Cooperation Regular exchange of data and information Notification of planned activities Precaution and prevention Protection and conservation of ecosystems Obligation not to cause significant harm Notification of emergency situation Freedom of navigation on the river Mostly same as the principles of the UN convention on international watercourses
Mandate and Organs Basin organization which aimed to promote sustainable development of the water resources on the basis of international water law principle. The permanent administrative organs: The Assembly of head of State and Government (every 4 years) The Council of Ministers in Charge of Water resources (every 2 years) The forum of the parties involved in the Volta basin development (every 2 years) The Committee of Experts (once a year) The Executive Directorate of the Authority The Executive Directorate contains Observatory Direction for administration and finance Direction for IWRM planning
The forum of the parties Based on the principle of participation Creation: article 8 of the convention (2007) Mission: Advise the council of ministers Members per country (04): Water users Civil society Collectivities National focal structure Observers Basin organizations Research centers for water and environment Technical partners Meetings: every 2 years (2)
Stakeholders involvement Statutory meetings Capacity building projects (EU project) Training Exchange of experience They are part of committees for studies and projects(volta Hycos) They are consulted through formal meetings (experts committees meetings)
Stakeholders engagement experience Partnership IUCN-VBA on the PAGEV (project for the improvement of the water governance 2007 2010), mobilization of multi level stakeholders for IWRM interventions River banks protection (plants) Creation of local transboundary committee Rehabilitation of Sakom dam (Ghana) Capacity building of the national focal points on data collection for the Observatory
Challenges Lack of procedures between the organs Advise and not decide Lack of adequate communication tools (local meetings, translated flyers on local language ) Adequate language for communication
Perspectives Develop more concrete public participation Involve local associations, water users and collectivities of the meetings venue Build a schematic decisional process that involve the stakeholders (link between the recommendations of the forum of parties and the decisions made by the council of ministers) Develop common projects which involve the stakeholders Develop a methodological guide for the involvement of stakeholders on the Volta basin water charter elaboration and implementation (IUCN PAGE project)
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