Master plan for integrated development of the Gambia, Kayanga Geba and Koliba-Corubal river basins

The Organisation pour la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Gambie (OMVG) is responsible for the development of the three transboundary river basins, which cover almost 116,000 km² and four countries (Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal). The BRLi-COBA-IDEV consortium has been commissioned by the UNCDF to provide the OMGV with an integrated planning tool to assist in the management of the shared resources of these three basins, with the aim of promoting the economic development of the territories concerned, while taking into account the needs and threats facing this territory and its resources.

The aim of drawing up an integrated development master plan (IDMP) for the three basins is to strengthen cooperation between the basin states and achieve a permanent balance between the good ecological status of the rivers and economic development in response to the water needs of the various uses. The overall aim is to improve food security, energy supply, drinking water supply and transport in order to open up and bring economic development and employment to the rural areas of the basin.

An integrated planning document covering the main economic sectors in the three basins (agriculture and livestock, energy and mining, drinking water supply, wastewater and health, ecosystem protection and ecotourism) has been drawn up on the basis of a broad consultation process and the development of integrated modelling tools for possible water resource development scenarios (resource allocation, costs and benefits) (decision-making support for basin stakeholders and development of innovative consultation and communication tools).

The master plan was drawn up in three phases:

• Diagnosis: identification of cross-border problems and development issues in the three catchment areas (current situation of water resources, the economy and cross-border institutions);
• Development of six sectoral plans: Agriculture-livestock-forestry-fisheries / Energy-mining-industry / Transport and communication / Drinking water and sanitation / Environment, ecosystem management and protection / Institutional development.
• Drawing up a master plan to bring the various sectoral plans into line with each other, with a view to the concerted use of water and natural resources and the economic development of the three basins, in line with the positions of the basin stakeholders.