3rd International Conference on Managing Shared Aquifer Resources in Africa

Mr Omar Salem of the General Water Authority of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and Mr Youba Sokona of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), co-chair, along with the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP), invite you to the 3rd International Conference on Managing Shared aquifer Resources in Africa that will be held in Tripoli, Libya, 25-27 May 2008.

The purpose of this conference is to take the ISARM initiative in Africa one stage further. The preliminary inventory of the shared aquifer resources, setting out the scientific basis for subsequent actions through case studies that came about as a result of the 2nd Tripoli Conference will be further extended. The conference will also consider the formulation of inputs and recommendations for the Regional Centre under the auspices of UNESCO currently being established in Libya in order to develop a plan of action supporting both the current as well as the new African Expert Groups. Finally, the scope of the Conference will also include the establishment of a Plan of Action for Shared Aquifer systems resources management in Africa as a whole, taking into consideration the requirements of the region. This will provide support to both the African Union and the African Ministerial Council on Water.

OSS, supported by UNESCO, will take care of the secretariat of the Conference.

Schedule:

• 10th December 2007 Call for papers
• 31st March 2008 Deadline for submission of papers
• 25th April 2008 Programme and second announcement
• December 2008 Publication of the proceedings
• March 2009 Participation at the 5th WWF

Conference topics:

• Update of the inventory of African transboundary aquifers: situation in the different sub-regions
• Progress made on the new projects: SASS, SAI, Gulf of Guinea, West Africa, Nubian Sandstone Aquifer, etc.
• Transboundary aquifer and climate change
• Integrated Water Resources Management applied to transboundary aquifers (monitoring, modelling, remote sensing)
• Financial instruments (bilateral and multilateral)
• Institutional and legal aspects
• Governance
• Policy guidance for sound and sustainable development of shared aquifers.

The conference will serve as a preparatory event for the activities to be organised in Africa for the World Water Day on 22 March 2009, the theme of which will be “Transboundary Waters”.

Note: A Preparatory meeting for the 3rd International Conference on Managing Shared aquifer Resources in Africa, is scheduled at UNESCO HQs, Paris, 18-19 February 2008.