Organization for the Development of the Senegal River: Insights from the Transboundary Freshwater Dispute Database

About this Article
Contributed by: Aaron T. Wolf, Joshua T. Newton, Matthew Pritchard
Article Type(s): Analysis
Contributor Perspective(s): Academic
Article last edited 12 Feb 2013 by Amanda
Article originally added by Mpritchard

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This article is linked to Organization for the Development of the Senegal River

The points below are summarized or excerpted from the Oregon State University Transboundary Freshwater Dispute Database (TFDD). Matthew Pritchard provided this and other summarized analysis or insights from the TFFD on behalf and with permission of the original authors. Available on-line at: http://www.transboundarywaters.orst.edu/

Lessons Learned

Stakeholder participation should be included at all levels of decision-making processes for optimal mutual gain.

When local populations were not included on the decision-making processes within the Senegal River basin, there tended to be frustration, confusion and economic losses directly as a result of not participating. Participation by all stakeholders can only benefit all groups involved in making agreements more sustainable, mutually beneficial and efficient.

Lack of participation of all basin nations weakens the overall negotiations and creates opportunity losses for those not participating.

Guinea, not party to the OMVS organization, has not experienced the development benefits of the other three countries in the basin. As a result, they are lacking water resource management infrastructure, a reliable energy source and water supplies.

Mutually beneficial projects and integrated investments create good neighbors.

As a result of the OMVS and the design and implementation of joint projects, the relations between the countries has improved and economic development has increased thereby making cooperation rather than conflict a meeting point with regards to the Senegal River.

Creative Outcomes Resulting from Resolution Process

The mutually beneficial design of the OMVS and how it redistributes the economic benefits based on how much each country puts into the project creates incentives and equality in the development process. Even though Guinea dropped out of the cooperation process officially in 1967, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal have allowed them to be an observer thereby reducing the potential for conflict within the basin. Full participation would be ideal, but under the circumstances, it is better to have Guinea present and make the process transparent rather than exclude them altogether. PASIE, Plan d'Attenuation et de Suivi des Impact sur l'Environnement, was formed in 1998, an entity with its sole purpose to investigate the environmental impacts of the development and distribution of power from the Manantali hydroelectric power station.