DURAGIRE

Benin is a West African country with an economy largely dependent on agriculture, livestock farming, and fishing. The sustainability and development of these sectors are closely linked to the management of water resources. Therefore, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) has become a management framework commonly used at both national and local levels.

However, there are several challenges associated with the IWRM approach. These negatively impact institutional and coordinated responses to the effects of climate change, particularly flooding. Furthermore, the lack of synergy between national and local responses increases the sustainability risks of water resources and disrupts its ecosystem, thereby affecting present and future generations who rely on them.

Through DURAGIRE (Durable and Sustainable IWRM), a three-year consortium project (2024-2026) supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, project partners aim to improve the resilience of communities in the Ouémé Valley to water-related risks primarily caused by seasonal rainfall.

The project builds on the earlier water resource management contributions of the OmiDelta programme and is designed to enhance the sustainability of OmiDelta’s IWRM results. It applies SNV’s Equitable Water Resources Management (EWRM) framework approach and contributes to (i) strengthening water governance at local and national levels; and (ii) introducing a sustainable financing model for IWRM in Benin.

Towards the achievement of DURAGIRE’s goals, the project engages in four trajectories:

1. IWRM capacity and regulatory frameworks

2. Functionality of CLEs (Comités Locaux de l'Eau, Local Water Committee) and municipality commitment

3. Sustainability of IWRM actions

4. Strengthening integrated SAP (Système d'Alerte Précoce, Early Warning Systems)

DURAGIRE is implemented by three partners: SNV (as lead partner), VNGI, and ANCB (National Association of Communes of Benin) and supported by two contributing partners: PNE (the National Delegation of the Global Water Partnership) and RoyalHaskoningDHV.