International Waters learning Exchange & Resource Network

Reversing Land and Water Degradation Trends in the Niger River Basin - Results

GEF IDS: 1093 , 5535

Ecosystem
River

Scale
Regional

Information sources
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Key Basin Project Results
1. Contribution to the Shared Vision Process in the Niger Basin resulting in the approval by the Heads of State of the Niger Basin of a 20-year Investment Program (IP), for a total of US$8 billion
2. Contributed to the Improved knowledge base and data sharing supported appropriate development decisions at the Basin level: In the context of the Shared Vision Process, hydrological and economic models of the Niger Basin for key development scenarios and key sectors (irrigation, energy, livestock, etc) were developed. The results of the models allowed the Niger CoM meeting to choose a specific development scenario in preparation of the 20-year IP.
3. Validation at the regional and national level of Transboundary Diagnosis Analysis and SAPconducted in an inclusive process, and the SAP was endorsed by the COM as a regional policy framework. A comprehensive Transboundary Diagnosis Analysis (TDA) and a Strategic Action Program (SAP) were completed following a participatory process that included multidisciplinary teams at the national and regional level. (#5535, Niger River)

Results data
Establishment of country-specific inter-ministerial committees
Year: N/A - Value: YES
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Regional legal agreements and cooperation frameworks
Year: N/A - Value: TBD
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Regional Management Institutions
Year: N/A - Value: YES
Body: Niger Basin Authority

GEF Project:
Indicator 1: Strengthen collaboration and dialogue between the NBA and the member countries. This stronger collaboration yielded to the development of a sustainable strategic Action Program and a 20-year investment program for the Niger Basin for an amount of US$8 billion. The project has contributed to a conducive and enabling environment and supported the ongoing dialogue and intensification of collaboration between the nine countries. The project modalities provide an opportunity for multi-sectoral dialogue, sharing of lessons, learning from each other, and building cohesiveness of key partners. This project was the only NBA project with activities implemented in the nine countries. (#5535, Niger River)
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis: Agreement on transboundary priorities and root causes
Year: 2001 - Value: YES
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Development of Strategic Action Program (SAP)
Year: 2010 - Value: YES
It has been validated by the Project Regional Steering Committee in August 2010 in Garoua (Cameroon) and endorsed by the resolution n°14 of the 29th ordinary session of
NBA Council of Ministers held on November 29th, 2010, in Abuja (Federal Republic of Nigeria)

Indicator 2: Validation at the regional and national level of Transboundary Diagnosis Analysis and SAP conducted in an inclusive process, and the SAP was endorsed by the COM as a regional policy framework. A comprehensive Transboundary Diagnosis Analysis (TDA) and a Strategic Action Program (SAP) were completed following a participatory process that included multidisciplinary teams at the national and regional level. The TDA analysis conducted during the project preparation in the main stem countries was completed in 2009 and validated through a participatory process. It presented the transboundary problems as identified and prioritized by the basin stakeholders, with high and medium priorities assigned to respectively (i) land degradation (degradation of vegetation cover and soil erosion), (ii) water resources degradation (reduced water availability and quality), and (iii) loss of terrestrial biological diversity. Following the conclusions of the TDA, the SAP is a policy document that: (i) complemented the Niger Basin Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP), (ii) identified future sustainable development investments in the Basin, (iii) ranked trans-boundary environmental problems, (iv) provided information on specific sites on the Basin that have a rich biodiversity, (v) identified political, legal and institutional reforms, and (v) integrated aspects related to climate change/variability
emphasizing their transversal character and socio-economic impacts. The SAP also provided a first estimate of the cost of addressing the transboundary environmental aspects that were not yet included in the SDAP and estimated the cost to be about US$1.5 billion. The SAP was endorsed at the appropriate
political level (the Council of Ministers) in November 2010 and it covers the period 2013 – 2027, parallel to subsequent SDAP phases. (#5535, Niger River)