The synthesis report of the Round Table on “Cooperation and Benefit Sharing in the basins of the Senegal River and the Niger River” is available online.

The key lessons identified in the report are:

• Each river basin organisation has its own particular traits. As a consequence, the effective operation of basin institutions flows out of multiple factors but the level of homogeneity between the parties seems to weigh in favour of effective coordination. From a methodological perspective, the comparative approach allows the examination of the factors unique to each case while facilitating the identification of factors that can explain differences in their development pathways.
• The development of hydroelectric facilities on international waterways creates opportunities for cooperation between riparian states and facilities inter-state cooperation while supporting the continued development of river networks.
• Multi-sectoral development programs (encompassing energy, agriculture, and industry, as well as the provision of drinking water) foster benefit sharing.
• The establishment of common facilities plays a significant role in constituting an international watercourse as a shared space of integration among States and populations.
• Benefit sharing is a multifaceted concept which includes not only the economic gains earned from infrastructure projects located on international watercourses, but also the social and environmental benefits that infrastructure has for riparian populations.
• The development of hydroelectric facilities on international waterways creates opportunities for cooperation between riparian states and facilities inter-state cooperation while supporting the continued development of river networks.
• The practice of the OMVS and the NBA each provide examples in which consultation with riparian populations plays an important part in decision processes throughout the conception and implementation of hydroelectric projects. Their practice also takes care to prevent negative environmental impacts, especially on aquatic ecosystems, from the initial decision to the completion of those projects.
  Report

2015