African bank funds integrated water management by Gambia River agency

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a grant of 1.58 million euros (US$2.24 million) for integrated water resources management by the Gambia River development agency.

AfDB said the objective of the grant agreement, signed May 16, 2009, in Bissau, is to help OMVG develop a cooperative framework in the Kayanga-Geba Basin and reinforce institutional capacities to carry out sustainable management of shared water resources.

The Organization for the Development of the River Gambia (OMVG), which includes Guinea, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, and Gambia, carries out hydropower development in the region. Last year, AfDB said it is considering a proposal to provide 120 million Units of Account (US$193 million) to OMVG to aid construction of the 90-MW Sambangalou and 215-MW Kaleta hydroelectric projects. (HydroWorld 11/14/08)

The current grant, from the African Water Facility Special Fund, is to help strengthen management of the hydrological observation network, develop an integrated water resources management plan for the basin, improve staff training, assess water flow regulation, and support development of irrigation areas in the Guinea Bissau portion of the basin.