Under the leadership of Benin government, the Benin Water Partnership mobilised stakeholders from government and non-government organisations and civil society to define a road map and vision of the planning process towards better water resources management.
A baseline studies (water situation analysis and complementary thematic studies) were done followed by the drafting of the national IWRM action plan. The Ministry in charge of water set up a Drafting Committee made up of national experts coming from relevant ministries, civil society, universities, private sector and NGOs all constituted important part in the process.
Following various information and sensitization workshops, and different studies, and the setting up of the Drafting Committee, thematic workshops were organized to refine the results of water situation analysis studies. The water resources challenges were prioritised using Water Resources Issues Assessment Methodology (WRIAM) and priority was given to the main technical problems in terms of assessing, managing and using water resources at basin and national level. Weaknesses of the water resources management framework were also assessed and analysed.
The GWP re-affirmed its support to the IWRM planning process in the country under a Partnership for Africa’s Water Development programme (PAWDII). Active and constant advocacy actions were conducted by CWP Benin targeting the main sectoral ministries involved in water management and its uses (water, environment, agriculture, transport, decentralization, tourism, etc.) and other governmental institutions. The GWP Toolbox assisted in formulating key areas for water policy reform.