Ivory Coast Joins UN Water Convention: A Milestone for Transboundary Water Cooperation

Ivory Coast has joined the United Nations Water Convention, becoming the 10th African nation to do so. This move is aimed at enhancing cooperative water management across borders in response to growing water stress and the effects of climate change on shared water resources.

Significance for Africa

• Economic Growth and Poverty Alleviation: Africa’s water resources have the potential to stimulate economic growth, secure livelihoods, and alleviate poverty. Transboundary water resources are especially important in Africa, covering about 62% of the region’s land area.
• Climate Change Adaptation: The Niger basin, one of Africa’s most vulnerable regions to climate change, is likely to experience significant decreases in river flows, making transboundary cooperation essential.
• Water Security: Ivory Coast’s accession helps in managing water resources sustainably, which is crucial given the country’s high vulnerability to climate change and water insecurity.

Challenges and Impact

• Water Stress and Population Growth: Meeting the water needs of Ivory Coast’s 30 million residents, amidst urbanization, climate change effects, and pollution, presents significant challenges.
• Uneven Water Distribution: The north and northeast of Ivory Coast experience greater water stress, highlighting the need for effective water management strategies.

Legal and Institutional Frameworks

• Transboundary Cooperation: The UN Water Convention requires parties to cooperate for the sustainable management of shared waters, ensuring equitable use and preventing conflicts.
• Operational Arrangements: Only 25% of Ivory Coast’s transboundary basin area is currently covered by operational arrangements, indicating a need for enhanced legal and institutional frameworks.

Required Measures

• Strengthening Legal Frameworks: There is an urgent need for investment in enforcement measures to stem illegal profit flows and hold perpetrators accountable.
• Training and Coordination: Providing training for enforcement officials, extending labour inspection into high-risk sectors, and better coordination between labour and criminal law enforcement are essential.
• Comprehensive Approach: Enforcement actions must be part of a comprehensive approach that prioritizes addressing root causes and safeguarding victims.
• Sustainable Management: Parties are required to use shared waters in a reasonable and equitable way and ensure their sustainable management through cooperation.

Expansion of the Water Convention

• Upcoming Accessions: At least three more African nations, including Sierra Leone, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, are in the final stages of accession to the convention.
• Global Cooperation: The accession of these countries offers new prospects for enhanced transboundary cooperation globally, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Mains Practice Question

Q: “Transboundary water cooperation is crucial for sustainable development and climate resilience in Africa.” Discuss