Monrovia – Stakeholders of the Mano River Union (MRU) have begun discussions in Monrovia on the establishment of a Transboundary Water Basins Management Office (TWBMO)—a new regional body aimed at strengthening water governance and promoting the sustainable management of shared water resources among MRU member states.
By Francis G. Boayue
The initiative seeks to enhance cooperation and coordination in managing the sub-region’s critical water resources, which are shared by Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. It represents a significant step in advancing the MRU’s Agenda for regional integration, environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
Speaking at the opening of the National Validation Workshop for the legal texts establishing the TWBMO, Madam Ama Gborie Foday, representing the MRU Secretary-General Ambassador Simeon Moribah, welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of the initiative for regional cooperation
“This gathering represents a significant step in our collective ambition to operationalize a regional mechanism that promotes sustainable, equitable, and cooperative water resources management across the shared basins of Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone,” Madam Gborie Foday said.
“Our presence here today is a testament to the strength of our regional solidarity and our mutual commitment to safeguarding one of our region’s most precious natural resources—water.”
The proposed Transboundary Water Basins Management Office is expected to serve as a specialized institution of the MRU, responsible for facilitating integrated water resources management (IWRM), policy harmonization, and capacity building across member countries.
The two-day workshop, organized by the MRU Department of Economic Development and Regional Integration, brings together key representatives from national governments, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and other development partners.
Participants are reviewing and validating the preliminary drafts of the protocol, organic texts, administrative and financial procedures manual, and operationalization plan for the new office. Their recommendations will inform the final version of the legal instruments required to establish and operationalize the TWBMO.
Madam Gborie Foday reaffirmed the MRU Secretariat’s commitment to advancing the initiative in close collaboration with all stakeholders and expressed gratitude to ECOWAS, IUCN, and other technical and financial partners for their continued support.
“Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient, and more united Mano River Union,” she said.
The establishment of the Transboundary Water Basins Management Office is expected to mark a new chapter in regional efforts to manage shared natural resources and foster sustainable development across the Mano River basin.
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