August 31, 2019 marked the end of the Volta Basin Strategic Action Program Implementation Project (VSIP acronym in English). For four (04) years, the Executive Directorate of the Volta Basin Authority has, with selflessness and determination, led the implementation of this project which has seen the involvement of actors at all levels in the six ( 06) VBA member states.
With the support and accompaniment of the Focal Points, the administrative and customary authorities of each of the member countries, the Project recorded very appreciable results, despite the few difficulties which marked its implementation. Among these results, without being exhaustive, the Executive Management can be delighted with the following achievements:
- the development of the Water Charter of the Volta Basin and its approval by the 7 th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers, held in Accra, May 10, 2019, in Accra, Ghana;
- the development and validation of three appendices to the Charter: (i) Appendix n ° 1 relating to the attributions, composition, organization and functioning of the specific bodies created by the Water Charter, (ii) Annex No. 2 relating to the methods of production, collection, exchange and use of data and information, (iii) Annex No. 3 relating to the procedure for Prior Notification of planned measures;
- development of the VBA Communication Strategy and Plan;
- the development of the new VBA administrative, financial and accounting procedures manual and the staff performance appraisal mechanism;
- the establishment of National Focal Structures in the six member states of the VBA in place of the National Focal Points;
- capacity building of Civil Society Organizations, Youth Associations and Territorial Communities of the countries of the Volta Basin on the management of ecosystems for adaptation to climate change through a series of workshops.
- the establishment of the “Men and Women of the Media” network.
Obviously, these various achievements contribute to strengthening the institutional anchoring of our Institution and it would be saying little to affirm strongly that this project gave a positive dimension to the young ABV in terms of visibility and credibility.
Thus, seizing the opportunity of this issue of Volta News which highlights the latest activities of the VSIP Project, I would like, sincerely, to pay a deserved tribute to our Technical and Financial partners, in particular the World Bank, the GEF and the CIWA for their unwavering support for our Institution and to call with all my wishes for the strengthening of our cooperation for even more brilliant results, for the benefit of our valiant populations.
On the same vein, this forum offers me the opportunity to welcome the advent of the Project “ Reversal of trends in ecosystem and water degradation in the Volta Basin (REWarD) ” funded, once again, over a period of five (05) years by the GEF, to whom I reiterate my deep gratitude.
To do this, counting on your more increased support and remaining certain that in the synergy of actions, we can go even further, I hope that this nascent project will allow the ABV to strengthen its presence alongside the populations. of the basin through the implementation of actions for the sustainable use, protection and preservation of ecosystems (basis of socio-economic development) of the Volta basin.
Good reading
Robert Y. DESSOUASSI
Executive director
