Department
of Water Resources in partnership with The Gambia National Commission for
UNESCO, Monday organized a day-long
consultative workshop for the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP)
committee; held at National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) in Bakau.
This
IHP committee comprises representatives of several ministries, departments,
local government authorities, nongovernmental organizations and community based
organizations, among others.
The
consultative conference was meant to induct the new members to the duties and
responsibilities of the committee to ensure its revival.
Officials
say the committee could also network with close to 168 Intergovernmental
Hydrological Programme National Committees worldwide and has comparative
advantage in view of its composition.
Dr.
Bamba Banja, permanent secretary at the ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources
and National Assembly Matters said re- activating the IHP will contribute
significantly towards the sustainable management of Gambia’s water and related
resources for sustainable development, hence driving the attainment of
sustainable development gold.
“The
Gambia Government being cognizant of this fact had developed the integrated
water resource management roadmap in 2009.
Recommendations of the roadmap were implemented through the national
water sector projects from 2011-15, which occasioned water sector institutional
reform with the new draft water bill in 2014,” he said.
He added that the bill will establish the National Water
Commission, National Water Resource Management Authority (NWRMA), The Gambia
Metrological Agency and Department of Rural Water Supply as well as Sanitation
under the ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources.
Dr
Banja noted that the water resources assessment and management strategy as one
of the main output of the national water sector reform project was initiated as
result of the bill.
He
said the national committee has a major stake in the current water sector
reform in the country while assuring that his ministry will work with all
relevant stakeholders, particularly the committee to manage its resources.
He
o expressed optimism that if the committee works effectively there will be
standard in the water resource sector.
The
technocrat said water shortage now occurs frequently, saying in order to address
that nightmare, there is need for stakeholders to manage the supply and demand
chain of water in the country.
“Measure
must be put in place to ensure water issued in a sustainable manner,” The
expert warned.
Lamin
Jarjou, senior programme officer for Gambia National Commission for UNESCO
described the committee as significant, saying all UNESCO member states are
required to have such commission.
Mr.
Jarjou said the IHP committee offers stimulation, encourage hydrological
research and assist member states in hydrological research and training
activities.
“We
have to understand that it brings innovation into disciplinary and
environmental sound methods and tools into play while fostering and
capitalizing on advances in water science,” he said.
