IWRA Proceedings

AbstractA gradual return of investors is observed in the water sector (particularly agricultural water). As a result of global policy processes undertaken in the 90’s (e.g. CSD process), the investments are often conditioned by the existence of operational IWRM frameworks. West Africa is well advanced on IWRM planning and regional coordination, in particular through the work of the Economic Commission of the West African States (ECOWAS). With a view to improve the operationality of the IWRM concept, the ECOWAS water department (UCRE) is developing a system analysis approach to IWRM. The approach places a central focus on the interface between the “water resources management” and the “water uses management” and the coordination problems created by the radically different viewpoints carried by the managers operating on both sides of this interface. It emphasizes that the instrumentation of this interface is the key to realistically pursuing the objectives stated in the IWRM definition: social equity, economic efficiency and environmental sustainability. The approach also clearly delineates what is concerning the “performance” of the water systems (in other words whether the above objectives are obtained or not) from the “characteristics of the management systems” embedded in these water systems. Policies, institutions and management instruments are presented as building blocks of such management systems able to confer or not desirable “IWRM characteristics”. Based on this approach, work on “IWRM audits” for water management systems can be initiated which will hopefully decrease the perception of water management risks of potential investors. In parallel, cross analysis of performance and management characteristics of various water management systems can pave the way for benchmarking and progress. The paper proposes a brief description of this operational IWRM approach and draws illustrations from the preliminary work undertaken by ECOWAS, more specifically in Burkina-Faso.