May 21, 2025 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): The 3rd IGAD Water Forum concluded with renewed commitment to accelerate the establishment of a regionally anchored platform for groundwater cooperation. Over three days, more than 150 participants, including national focal institutions, technical experts, and regional and international partners, engaged in focused exchanges on transboundary groundwater governance, data harmonization, and capacity building.
Held under the theme “Building a Platform for Sustainable Regional Groundwater Cooperation,” the Forum emphasized that groundwater must become the backbone of regional climate resilience and peacebuilding efforts. The IGAD platform, supported by the Groundwater Information System (GWIS) and informed by joint feasibility studies, was presented as a critical step toward shared management of resources like the Dawa, Shabelle, and Northern Basement aquifers.
“IGAD is not only facilitating dialogue, we are institutionalizing regional solidarity around groundwater. This platform will serve as the common space for Member States to jointly plan, share knowledge, and align on priority actions,” stated H.E. Mohamed Ware, IGAD Deputy Executive Secretary.
Forum Highlights:
- Presentation of IGAD-led regional initiatives: the Joint Regional Study (JRS), three cross-border feasibility studies, and GWIS integration with Earth observation tools.
- Panel debates on the role of regional economic communities and legal instruments in enhancing transboundary aquifer governance.
- Technical sessions on recharge estimation, AI-based mapping, managed aquifer recharge (MAR), and institutional tools like Uganda’s Permit Management Portal.
- Strong support for strengthening IGAD’s water unit and formalizing the platform as a mechanism beyond the GW4R project timeline.
Strategic Partnerships:
The Forum brought together representatives from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, along with key partners including the World Bank, UNESCO, UNDP, British Geological Survey (BGS), Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), and the Southern African Development Community Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI).
Lessons from UNECE and the Africa Water Vision were also shared to inspire further legal and policy alignment.
The closing panel emphasized the need for long-term financing, stronger collaboration, and inclusive engagement in groundwater governance. As one panelist noted, “We are moving from fragmented initiatives to a unified regional vision, anchored in shared interests, scientific evidence, and the trust we are building together.”
