SENEGAL RIVER BASIN
Jill Kjellsson
February 28, 2012
Overview
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Background Information
Issues the Basin Faces
Organization Development
Lessons Learned
Background
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Guinea, Mali,
Mauritania, Senegal
1800 km
Major Tributaries:
Bafing, Bakoye,
Faleme, Karakoro,
Gorgol
3 sections: Upper,
Valley and Delta
Population: 3.5 million
(85% live near river)
Areas and Rainfall by Country
Country
Guinea
Mali
Total area of Area of the As % of total As % of total Average annual
the country country
area of
area of
rainfall in the
(km2)
within the basin (%) country (%) basin area
basin (km2)
(mm)
245,857
29,475
6.1
12.0
1,475
1,240,190
139,098
28.8
11.2
855
Mauritania 1,025,520
242,742
50.2
23.7
270
71,866
14.9
36.5
520
Senegal
For Senegal
basin
196,720
483,181
550
Activity in the Basin
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Agriculture
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Fishing
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Other: sugar cane
production, rice
farming, mining
(small)
Navigation
Manantali Dam
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Built in1986
Prevent flooding during rainy
season and provide freshwater
during dry season
In 2002, put online for
hydroelectric power production
700 GWh/year
Mali (52%), Mauritania (15%),
Senegal (33%)
Diama Dam
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Built in 1988
Prevents salt water
intrusion
Raises level of
upstream water
creating reserves for
irrigation and double
cropping
Current Issues
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Drought
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Extreme Poverty
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Environmental Impact of
the 2 Dams
Waterborne Diseases
Degraded Pastureland
and Fisheries
Population Growth
Development of Organizations
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1963 - Bamako Convention; Interstate Committee
(CIE)
1968 - Labe Convention; Organization of
Boundary States (OERS)
1972 - Organization for the Development of the
Senegal River (OMVS)
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2002 – Senegal River Charter
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2005 – Guinea rejoins the OMVS
Participatory Approach: Water Development
and Management Master Plan (SDAGE)
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Organized and Implemented by the
OMVS with support from:
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BRL Consulting Firm
Eau Vive NGO
The French Agency for Development
3 Phases
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Phase 1 - Diagnose Conditions
Phase 2 - Develop Regional Sectoral
Plans
Phase 3 - Develop the SDAGE
Documentary being shown at the 6th
World Water Forum in March
Lessons Learned
1) Stakeholder participation should be included at all levels of
decision-making processes for optimal mutual gain.
2) Lack of participation of all basin nations weakens the overall
negotiations and creates opportunity losses for those not
participating.
3) Mutually beneficial projects and integrated investments create good
neighbors.
From Oregon State University’s Transboundary
Freshwater Dispute Database
Works Cited
[1] http://webworld.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/senegal_river/
[2] http://www.fao.org/docrep/W4347E/w4347e0h.htm
[3]http://www.transboundarywaters.orst.edu/research/case_studies/OMVS_New.htm
[4] http://gridnairobi.unep.org/chm/waterbasins/senegal_river_basin-17-03-08.jpg
[5] http://www.solutionsforwater.org/solutions/participatory-approach-for-the-design-of-awater-development-and-management-master-plan-sdage-in-the-senegal-river-basin
[6]http://www.counterpart.org/images/uploads/397%20Blog%20Senegal%20100608_SN
_010.JPG
[7] http://www.tractebel-engineering-gdfsuez.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/TEF_08Manantali-1.jpg?9d7bd4
[8] http://www.eosnap.com/public/media/2008/11/africariver/20081126-africariverfull.jpg
[9] http://cmsdata.iucn.org/img/r_tow_africawest_284_4221.jpg
[10] http://www.guideforafrica.com/images/africa/senegal-river.jpg
[11] http://en.structurae.de/photos/index.cfm?JS=95748
Questions
1)
What do you think the advantages and disadvantages of allocating water to use
sectors rather than to countries are? Do you think other countries should allocate water
this way instead? Why might they or why might they not choose to allocate water in
this way?
2)
What impact (positive or negative) does Guinea’s absence from the OMVS have on
the basin’s development?
3)
Do you believe that similar cooperation is possible in other basins or were the
circumstances in the Senegal River basin (decolonization and structuring of national
infrastructure at the same time, mutual need for ways to lessen the impacts of severe
drought, etc) so unique that the development based on mutual benefits is only possible
here?
4)
Do you think the participatory approach of developing the SDAGE currently being
utilized in the basin can be used in other regions? What factors contribute to the
success of such an approach and what factors hinder it?