Ivory Coast Joins the UN Water Convention: A Step Towards Sustainable Water Management
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Ivory Coast becomes the 53rd Party to the UN Water Convention. |
| UN Water Convention | Officially known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. Adopted in 1992, entered into force in 1996. Promotes sustainable management of shared water resources. |
| Ivory Coast Accession | Ivory Coast is the 10th African nation to join the Convention. |
| Population | Approximately 30 million. |
| Transboundary River Basins | Shares eight river basins with Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. |
| Challenges | Water stress, rapid population growth, urbanization, climate change impacts (drought, flooding), and pollution. |
| Global Scope of Convention | Initially regional for Europe, expanded globally in 2016. Includes Parties from Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. |
| Relevance to SDG 6.5 | Supports integrated water resources management and transboundary cooperation as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. |
| Significance for Africa | Africa has 63 international river basins covering 62% of the continent's land area. Accession strengthens regional water cooperation and supports climate change adaptation. |
| Upcoming Accessions | Sierra Leone, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are expected to join soon. Sierra Leone has confirmed its intention, while Zambia and Zimbabwe are in advanced stages. Discussion scheduled for the 10th Meeting of the Parties in 2024. |