Third Regional working group meeting for the transboundary cooperation on the Senegal-Mauritanian Aquifer Basin (BASM)

The Regional Working Group (RWG) for Transboundary du Cooperation on the Senegal-Mauritanian Aquifer Basin (SMAB), is elaborated by representatives of the States that share this aquifer system, namely The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Senegal, as well as the Organisation for the Development of the Gambia River (OMVG) and the Organisation for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS) which joined this regional dialogue. The RWG has a mandate to provide support and advice to States and transboundary basin organizations to establish transboundary cooperation for a concerted sustainable management of the SMAB. Since May 2020, the RWG has been engaged in the project conception and action plan in order to fulfill this mandate. The regional dialogue on the SMAB is facilitated and supported by the Geneva Water Hub, the Secretariat of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes provided by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) as well as by the International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC).

Based on the discussions and decisions made during the Second Regional working group for the transboundary cooperation on the SMAB (Dakar, 1 et 2 décembre 20202), the objectives of the Third RWG meeting are:

• Discuss and finalize the joint project, especially the specific activities and the budget, as well as the next steps in finalizing the document.
• Define the necessary activities and responsibilities to ensure the OMVS's and OMVG's commitment in the project steering as well as the cooperation mechanism to be set up.
• Discuss options of project financing and define the responsibilities of RWG members in mobilizing funding.
• Prepare the ministerial meeting for project approval, in particular the process of drawing up a joint declaration.
• Agree on the next steps of the process.