• Togo and Benin launch joint strategy for Mono River Basin management
• Meeting validated monitoring framework, coordination plan, and gender strategy
• $5M IREE-Mono project targets water security, food resilience, cooperation

Experts, local authorities, and technical partners from Togo and Benin opened a three-day working session on Monday in Lomé to establish a coordinated, sustainable management strategy for the shared Mono River Basin.

The meeting, focused on the Regional Initiative for Water and Environment in the Transboundary Mono River Basin (IREE-Mono) project, has already resulted in the validation of three core instruments: a monitoring and evaluation mechanism, a coordination framework, and a 2025-2030 Gender Strategy.

The integration of the Gender Strategy is seen as crucial for the long-term success of the initiative. Yawo Ewoenam Zegue, Secretary General of the Togolese Ministry of Water and Sanitation, stressed that "Gender integration is not a simple add-on, but a sine qua non condition for sustainability." The strategy aims to correct imbalances that restrict the participation of women and youth, who are central to water and agricultural activities in the basin.

The newly validated monitoring mechanism is designed to boost performance. Dadja Gnakpaou, Executive Director of the Mono Basin Authority (MBA), stated that the mechanism will "improve performance, measure progress, identify weaknesses, and capitalize on best practices." Gnakpaou highlighted the central issues facing the basin as the insufficient use of water resources, environmental degradation, and limited knowledge of available resources.

Addressing Environmental Pressures

The Mono River, which stretches 530 kilometers, feeds a basin covering 24,300 square kilometers and supports nearly 4 million inhabitants. While it is a key source for agriculture, fishing, and energy, the river faces rising pressures from climate change, pollution, land degradation, and water insecurity.

According to the MBA, these factors compromise the river’s productive potential, directly affecting agricultural sectors and regional food security. The IREE-Mono project, launched in January 2025, is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with a total budget of $5 million over 48 months, intended to ensure integrated and coordinated resource management.

Beyond environmental goals, the initiative seeks to strengthen economic cooperation between Benin and Togo, aiming for long-term benefits in agricultural productivity, the preservation of fish ecosystems, and the resilience of rural communities. The ultimate goal is for both countries to transform the fragile resource into a lever for inclusive and sustainable development.