“One Nile – One Family”

1. Valorization of the Negotiated Approach (NA) as a key tool towards Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) Theme 3: Capacity Building and Innovation Nile Basin Discourse Summit (NBDS) 29th – 30th November 2017 Presented by Aluora Annette Luttah Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement – JVE International Email: aluttah@gmail.com http://www.jve-international.net “One Nile – One Family”

2. Contents • Organizational profile • Context • Institutional Frameworks • The Mono Basin • CSOs Bridging the gap • The Negotiated Approach • Perspectives

3. 1. Organizational profile Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement (JVE International) • Createdon: 23 November2001 in Togo • Mission:To buildleadership capacitiesamongyouth and vulnerablecommunities for an inclusive sustainabledevelopmentfrom a social justice perspective • Thematicenvironment: Energy and sustainabledevelopment, forest, water & NRM, citizen engagement and enterpreneurship • 3 Regional offices withHQs in Lomé • 40 Local branches in Togo • International: 26 countries, 14 offices

4. 2. Context West African Water Basins

5. 3. Institutional Framework African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) - 2002 Africa Water Vision 2025 - 2005 ECOWAS Water infrastructure Guidelines The SDGs (6) - 2015 The Togo water Policy The Mono Convention

6. 4. The Mono Basin The MONO: Mother of the road • The Mono Basin is one of the 25 transboundary basins in West Africa, shared by Togo and Benin. • Population: 5115026 inhabitants • Length: 527 km from Alédjokoura (mountains of Alédjo), to estuary, at Grand Popo, in Benin. • Surface: 24300 km2, with 21300 km2 in Togo while only 3000 km2 is situated in Bénin, that’s respectively 38 % and 2,14% of each territory.

7. The Mono: Mother of troubles • National Interest (energy) vs Community needs for resources and livelihoods • Weak awareness of populations about the basin • Complex existing and potential conflicts situation • Lack of public participation in ongoing projects (extractive and hydropower), let alone benefit-sharing • Large agro business resulting in water and land grabs • Social injustice legacy

8. 5. CSOs Bridging the Gap Milestones 2006: National Caravan & Rivers Festival 2007: National Multistakeholder Dialogue on dams launched 2008: Creation of the TADACA: Togolese Association of Dam Affected Communities and their Allies 2009 : First and Second National Forum on dams 2010 : Advocacy and compensation 2011 : Introduction to NA thanks to Both Ends and the Ecosystem Alliance 2012 : Piloting NA in the Mono River 2013: Case Studies, Video-documenting, Community Dialogues, Mapping of Stakeholders 2014: Adoption of the MBA legal texts 2015: Ratification of the Mono Convention 2016: Invitation and Facilitation of CSO in 3 MBA meetings 2017: Definition of a clear community Roadmap

9. 6. The Negotiated Approach

10. Principles of the Negotiated Approach (10) Three key principles:

11. Key Findings • Strong NGO presence: 300 (various projects) • Social Dynamics : transhumance, migrations, demography, poverty • GIZ Mono-Adjame UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Project • Handling compensation legacy of Nangbeto • Adjaralla Dam project • Decentralization • Mono Basin Authority establishment process without any public information or consultation • Huge interest from CSOs and communities to take their ‘stakeholder’ seat in the Integrated Mono Resource Management

12. Achievements Challenges 1. Move from an anti-mega hydro activist approach to a Constructive IWRM ally 2. Identifying key players 3. Balancing urgent needs vs Sustainability 4. Gendering the process in a highly patriarchal and disadvantaged society 5. Innovative funding sources for both CSOs involvement and socio-economic development programs 6. Involving leaders living outside the basin 7. Availability of scientific data 1. Increasing awareness about the need for Communities ‘not to wait’ for the governments 2. Beginning of CSOs & Citizen’s organization around the basin (TADACA) 3. Definition of a clear citizen’s vision on the Mono 4. Historical presence of Civil society voice in the establishment of the Mono Basin Authority 5. Positioning of CSOs and communities as key stakeholders in ALL other ongoing projects 6. Potential of social cohesion and conflict prevention

13. 7. Perspectives Recommendations To the governments of Togo and Benin • Accept to loose part of national sovereignty for the benefit of regional integration • Ensure an enabling environment for maximum participation of CSOs in the MBA • Integrate river basins management in long term national development plans • Facilitate multistakeholder dialogue at all basins level To development partners • Encourage national government to promote a more participatory IWRM • Support participation and CSO self-organisation around basin authorities To the Mono Basin Authority (Ecowas and Expert Technical Committee) • Ask for clarification as soon as possible in order to avoid future conflicts especially with project promoters and the still valid 1968 Benin-Togo electricity code (which created CEB) • Support Civil society information and consultation campaign before decision making of the MBA • Accept to learn and work with CSO, especially with regards to IWRM To the civil society organizations and private sector • Support the MBA as an opportunity towards a more enabling business setting • Deepen understanding of basins management tools from an evidence-based approach • Create a permanent dialogue platform between all stakeholders

14. Thank You!!! http://www.jve-international.net