Sierra Leone shares 4 main rivers with the neighbouring nations of Guinea and Liberia, together with the Nice Scarcies, Little Scarcies and Moa shared with Guinea, and Mano River shared with Liberia. All present essential freshwater that sustains ecosystems, livelihoods and the well-being of communities.
On this context, Sierra Leone has confirmed its intention to speed up the accession course of to the Conference on the Safety and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and Worldwide Lakes (Water Conference) which constitutes a singular international authorized and intergovernmental framework for the sustainable administration of transboundary water sources, serviced by UNECE. Together with the formulation of a highway map to finalize the accession course of by Sierra Leone, a high-level dedication for Sierra Leone’s accession was the principle consequence of the Nationwide workshop organized on 23-24 January 2024 by the Ministry of Water Sources and Sanitation by means of the Nationwide Water Sources Administration Company (NWRMA) in partnership with the Water Conference Secretariat.
The Nationwide Workshop detailed the obligations underneath the Conference, the advantages that Sierra Leone can derive from its accession and doable challenges, in addition to the subsequent steps within the course of. Funded by the European Union, it introduced collectively over 70 contributors from completely different ministries, multi-sectoral technical committees in command of pure sources administration, representatives of the native transboundary committees, the members of parliament accountable for water and the surroundings, regional organizations, academia and civil society, amongst others.
As illustrated by the results of the reporting train measuring progress to realize SDG indicator 6.5.2 on transboundary cooperation, Sierra Leone made necessary progress over the previous few years, with tangible proof just like the creation of transboundary water committees, with help from the Mano River Union. However rather more is required to operationalize cooperation over shared basins. Sonja Koeppel, Secretary of the Water Conference, mentioned: “The Water Conference might help on this regard. The Water Conference is an efficient international authorized and intergovernmental framework and platform aimed to help cooperation and sustainable administration of shared waters, together with groundwaters. Accession can allow Sierra Leone to profit help by the group of Events”
In line with the Minister of Water Sources and Sanitation, Minister of Water and Sanitation, Dr. Sao-Kpato Hannah Max-Kyne, Sierra Leone has made important efforts in water sources administration, and accession to the UN Water Conventions would show the nation’s dedication for furthering its efforts in step with the worldwide finest practices.
The Minister of Setting and Local weather Change, Mr. Jiwoh Abdulai, confused the significance of transboundary water cooperation for biodiversity and ecosystems safety. As such, accession to the worldwide Water Conventions will help the nation’s goal in local weather change resilience and ecosystem restoration.
The First Counsellor of the Delegation of the European Union to Sierra Leone, Mr. Holger Rommen, acknowledged Sierra Leone’s initiative to affix the worldwide Water Conventions to reinforce transboundary water cooperation and highlighted the significance given by the EU to transboundary water cooperation as a instrument for peace, safety and stability.
United Nations Resident Coordinator for Sierra Leone, Ms. Seraphine Wakana, said that “as we navigate the challenges posed by local weather change and growing calls for on water sources, it’s crucial that we work collaboratively to implement the rules and goals outlined within the Conference. With the Conference, we will create a basis for lasting peace and stability in our area by fostering cooperation and mutual understanding”.
The nationwide workshop adopted the approval by the Authorities cupboard of accession to the Water Conference in April 2023.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Financial Fee for Europe (UNECE).
