Water resources

West African is among the most vulnerable regions to climate change worldwide. The often disastrous impact variability and extreme events over the past thirty years is a striking illustration and a harbinger of this vulnerability.

An analysis is provided of the most relevant provisions on freshwater ecosystems conservation, present in international treaties, and bilateral and multilateral agreements relating to rivers and lakes. Included also an analysis of relevant European Union legislation.

The workshop was organised to improve the understanding of the dialectic between water-related infrastructures and institutional frameworks in West Africa.

Value is a practical guide that explains the most important steps and techniques for the valuation of ecosystem services, and the incorporation of its results in decision making. It explains, step by step, how to generate persuasive arguments for more sustainable and equitable development decisions in water resources management.

Formally acknowledging water as a human right could encourage the international community and governments to enhance their efforts to satisfy basic human needs and to meet the Millennium Development Goals. But critical questions arise in relation to a right to water. What would be the benefits and content of such a right? What mechanisms would be required for its effective implementation?