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category Biodiversity preservation Climate change adaptation Cooperation Governance News
The regional workshop on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and inland fisheries, held from 24 to 26 March 2026 in Cotonou, marks a strategic milestone for the member states of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA). Hosted by the Government of Benin and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Bank, this three-day meeting aimed to move away from ‘siloed’ management towards an intersectoral approach.
The focus of the proceedings was on the development of cross-border pilot projects. These initiatives aim to effectively integrate fisheries and aquaculture into water governance, sectors that are often marginalised despite their crucial role in food security and the local economy. Participants, including national experts and financial partners, set about validating country profiles and defining a joint roadmap.
The challenge is twofold: to ensure the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the face of human and climate pressures, whilst mobilising the necessary funding to implement these technical solutions. The conclusions of this workshop are expected to lead to a memorandum of understanding between the ABN and the FAO, transforming theoretical knowledge into on-the-ground actions for a more resilient and inclusive management of the Niger River ecosystems.
The workshop held in Benin was part of the FAO’s Global Initiative on Integrated Water Resources Management and Inland Fisheries, launched in 2023 in collaboration with several partners, including INBO.
This global initiative helps countries restore overfished fisheries and ecosystems by strengthening cross-border and cross-sectoral collaboration through partnerships with regional fisheries organisations, member states and river basin management bodies.