The regional workshop for the validation of studies, management of climate extremes with a view to developing a long-term adaptation and resilience strategy in the Volta Basin opened on Wednesday May 4, 2022 in Cotonou . The meeting is part of the project “Integrating flood, drought and early warning management for climate change adaptation in the Volta Basin (VDFM). This regional workshop, which lasts three days, brings together representatives of the six countries (Benin, Burkina-Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Togo) members of the Volta Basin Authority (VBA).
Allow countries to amend and validate the summary report, in particular the regional action plan for building the capacities of actors for resilience and long-term adaptation in the Volta Basin”. This defines the overall objective of the regional workshop focused on the management of climatic extremes which is taking place in Cotonou. In terms of specific objectives, it is a question of organizing group work with a view to making contributions to the action plan, integrating the contributions into the final plan, validating the roadmap with the formulation of recommendations. On the occasion of the opening ceremony, the deputy director of the cabinet of the ministry in charge of water, Alassane Kora Tossounon, reiterated Benin’s commitment to campaigning for the achievement of the objectives set. “The presence of all these actors at this workshop and coming from different countries reflects the common will of the States to promote solidarity and regional cooperation with a view to the development of local populations, but also the integrated and sustainable development of water resources. and associated ecosystems of the Volta Basin” declared the representative of the Minister in charge of water.
According to the Executive Director of the Volta Basin Authority (VBA), Robert Yaovi Dessouassi, the various countries which share this ecosystem have been confronted since the 1970s with the harmful effects of climate change which result in extreme phenomena. such as droughts and floods as the case may be with damage including loss of human life. “These recurring hydro-climatic phenomena, even if we cannot prevent them from occurring, require our concerted anticipation in order to enable us to significantly mitigate the risks incurred by our valiant populations, particularly in rural areas,” said Robert Yaovi Dessouassi. The latter adds that the results of the regional workshop will enable the executive management of the Abv to bring the Member States to harmonize at the national level their documents of policies, plans, directives and programs on the integration of the problems inherent in the risks. natural disasters, including floods and droughts in national portions of the Volta Basin.
It should be noted that the regional workshop which is part of the VDFM project will also serve as a framework for the holding of the second session of the technical advisory committee of the said project. At this level, it will be a question of examining the first conclusions of the mid-term evaluation of the project through the activities carried out in collaboration with national and regional agencies. The VDFM project is implemented by the World Meteorological Organization ONM, a United Nations Specialized Agency, the Global Water Partnership West Africa (GWP-WA), and the Volta Basin Authority (VBA).
