GIWA - Global International Waters Assessment

Convention for Co-operation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African Region
Under the Abidjan Convention, adopted in 1981and in force 1984, the Contracting Parties agree to take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution of the Convention area and to ensure sound environmental management of natural resources using for this purpose the best practicable means at their disposal, and in accordance with their capabilities. There is one protocol to the Convention: Protocol concerning cooperation in combating pollution in cases of emergency, adopted in 1981 and in force in 1984.

Convention Creating the Niger Basin Authority
The Convention, adopted in 1980 and in force in 1982, creates the Authority. Its aim is to promote the co-operation among member States and to ensure an integrated development of the Niger Basin in all fields, by developing its resources particularly in the fields of energy, water resources, agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing and fisheries, forestry and forestry exploitation, transport, communications and industry. The Authority is directed to the harmonization of national development policies in the Basin through the implementation of integrated development projects and programmes. The Authority is responsible for the harmonization and the co-ordination of national development policies, in order to ensure an equitable policy as regards sharing of the water resources among member States and for the elaboration and the execution of an integrated development plan of the Basin, as well as for the initiating and monitoring of an orderly and rational regional policy for the utilization of the surface and underground waters in the Basin. The Protocol Relating to the Development Fund of the Niger Basin was adopted with the Convention in 1980.

International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
The Convention (see also pdf file) was adopted in 1966 and entered into force in 1969. The purpose of the Convention is the conservation of the resources of tuna and tuna-like fishes of the Atlantic Ocean. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) was established in 1969, under the Convention, as an inter-governmental fishery organization responsible for the conservation of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas. ICCAT is the only fisheries organization that can undertake the range of work required for the study and management of tunas and tuna-like fishes in the Atlantic. The Commission's work requires the collection and analysis of statistical information relative to current conditions and trends of the fishery resources in the Convention area.

Organisation of African Unity, OAU
The Organization of African Unity was established in 1963, and the Charter of the Organization was signed on that occasion by Heads of State and Government of 32 independent African States. Its purposes are to promote the unity and solidarity of the African States; defend the sovereignty of members; eradicate all forms of colonialism; promote international cooperation having due regard for the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; coordinate and harmonize Member States economic, diplomatic, educational, health, welfare, scientific and defense policies. Issues like Research, Planning, Statistics & Population; Trade, Finance, Customs & Tourism; Agriculture & Rural Development; Transport & Communications; Co-operation & Integration; Industry, Energy & Mineral Resources, fall under the organisation's Economic Cooperation and Development Department.

UN Economic Commission for Africa, ECA
On the UN ECA site of the one finds News from Around Africa; Meetings & Events on Africa; Archives of ECA Activities; IT for Development; Nexus Issues; Empowering Women; Policy Analysis; Statistical Activities;Development Management; Governance; Regional Integration; Library and Publications; Reports of Conferences; Subregional Offices; and Special Initiative on Africa.

African Development Bank
The ADB is the premier financial development institution of Africa, dedicated to combating poverty and improving the lives of people of the continent and engaged in the task of mobilising resources towards the economic and social progress of its Regional Member Countries. The bank's Environment and Sustainable Development Unit "is the focal point for addressing and integrating the cross-cutting themes of environment, population, gender, poverty reduction, NGO relations/local participation, and institutional development into the bank's operations." The bank's environmental guidelines include coastal and marine resource management, and fisheries. See also the bank's country environmental profiles for its members.

UNEP Regional Seas Programme
The Regional Seas Programme was initiated in 1974 as a global programme implemented through regional components. The Regional Seas Programme is UNEP's main framework in the field of the coastal and marine environment. It includes 14 regions and three partner seas, involves more than 140 coastal states, and focuses on sustainable development of coastal and marine areas. Each regional action plan is formulated according to the needs and priorities of the region as perceived by the Governments concerned. Regional conventions are in place for several areas. See a map of all regional seas, and go to more information on the Black Sea, Wider Caribbean, Mediterranean, East Asian Seas, South Asian Seas, Eastern Africa, Kuwait Region, North West Pacific, Red Sea And Gulf of Aden, South East Pacific, North East Pacific, South Pacific, Upper South West Atlantic, and West and Central Africa. The UNEP Regional Seas web site also contains information on What's at stake, Major threats, and Actions.

UNDP - GEF - International waters:
Industrial Water Pollution Control in the Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem
An effective approach will be developed to prevent pollution of the Gulf of Guinea and conserve biodiversity in its Large Marine Ecosystem. The project covers institutional strengthening, water quality and ecological monitoring, evolving a programme for pollution control, training, setting-up demonstration sites and development of mechanisms to promote the health of the Guinea Current LME.

UNDP - GEF - Biodiversity:
Control of Exotic Aquatic Weeds in Rivers and Coastal Lagoons to Enhance and Restore Biodiversity
The infestation of bodies of water by invasive aquatic plants (IAP) initially observed in the early 1980s is now reaching alarming proportions. The main invasive species is Eichhornia crassipes but Salvinia molesta and Pistia stratiotes have also been observed, as have other species (lotus, nymphaea, etc.). These weeds are seriously impacting the life of the riparian human population. They also pose a threat to aquatic life. Some fresh water bodies are entirely covered. Aquatic life is also impacted by chemical shock in the lagoons' brackish water where large quantities of water hyacinth are carried by floods and accumulate to rot. It is necessary to preserve the very rich but as yet little known biodiversity of the Ivorian aquatic ecosystems.

World Bank - GEF - Biodiversity:
Coastal Wetlands Management, Ghana
Design and implementation of a Coastal Zone Management Plan to protect five environmentally-sensitive and threatened coastal Ramsar sites of global importance for migratory birds. The project includes: (a) monitoring of ecological conditions at the sites; (b) preparation and implementation of site management programs and the training of site managers and wardens; and (c) relocation of a sewage plant outlet that would have discharged into Sakumo Lagoon.

UNDP - GEF - International waters:
Development of a Strategic Action Program (SAP) for the Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem
The project would assist these 16 countries in making changes in the different sectors to ensure that the GCLME can sustainably support the socio-economic development of the region.

UNDP/World Bank - GEF - International waters:
Reversing Land and Water Degradation Trends in the Niger Basin
The objective of this project is the sustainable development of the Niger River Basin and the protection of its dryland and aquatic resources and associated biodiversity. The project will support the nine riparian countries.

UNEP/UNDP - GEF - International waters:
Integrated Management of the Volta River Basin
The objective of the proposed project is to facilitate the establishment of a multi-country management framework, to produce a diagnostic of main transboundary issues, and to define agreed measures to reverse/prevent resources degradation (SAP).

African Water Page
The main objective of the African Water Page, published by the Water Policy International, is "to increase communication on the Continent of Africa between people working in water. However, the level of connectivity to the Internet is very low. With other forms of communication being a difficulty, the Internet adds enormous potential to data accessibility for professionals, particularly those working in Government service. Not only is data more accessible, but with email, News Groups and the WWW communication between sector professionals can also be enhanced. There is a distinct sense of isolation of people working, sometimes against daunting odds, in countries all around Africa. As the African Water Page develops, one of the objectives is to encourage African professionals to become members of a closed forum for the sharing of information and support, and to promote frank discussion about some of the difficulties facing African professionals".

International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management, ICLARM
An international research organization "devoted to improving the productivity, management and conservation of aquatic resources for the benefit of users and consumers in developing countries". ICLARM is one of the research centres of CGIAR, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. See, for example, Caribbean Marine Protected Areas Project: The Role of Marine Protected Areas in Fisheries Management and Biodiversity Conservation in Coral Reef Ecosystems. ICLARM, in collaboration with the the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other partners, and with support from the European Commission, has also developed FishBase, a global information system on fishes for research scientists, fisheries managers, zoologists and many more. FishBase contains full information on 23,500 species. Furthermore, ICLARM has developed similar systems on coral reefs and their resources (ReefBase) and management of fish stocks in Asia (TrawlBase).

International Coral Reef Initiative, ICRI
An environmental partnership that brings stakeholders together with the objective of sustainable use and conservation of coral reefs for future generations. ICRI is an informal mechanism that allows representatives of over 80 developing countries with coral reefs to sit in equal partnership with major donor countries and development banks, international environmental and development agencies, scientific associations, the private sector and NGOs to decide on the best strategies to conserve the world's coral reef resources.

Coral Health and Monitoring Programme, NOOA
The mission of the NOOA Coral Health and Monitoring Program is to provide services to help improve and sustain coral reef health throughout the world. Long term goals:Establish an international network of coral reef researchers for the purpose of sharing knowledge and information on coral health and monitoring.Provide near real-time data products derived from satellite images and monitoring stations at coral reef areas. Provide a data repository for historical data collected from coral reef areas. Add to the general fund of coral reef knowledge.See also Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, GCRMN.

The Guinea Current - a Large Marine Ecosystem (LME)
A Large Marine Ecosystem, LME, is a "region of ocean space encompassing coastal areas from river basins and estuaries to the seaward boundary of continental shelves and the seaward margins of coastal current systems. It is a relatively large region characterized by distinct bathymetry, hydrography, productivity, and trophically dependent populations." See also Rhode Island University map of LMEs.