Earlier on, the project had contracted a joint venture consulting firm, led by HydroNova to conduct feasibility studies and detailed engineering design of the Kotu Stream for flood risk mitigation.
This study was the first step towards the restoration and reprofiling of the Kotu Stream to reduce the risk of flooding, which is the core objective of the WACA project. Funded by World Bank, the WACA project on Kotu Stream cuts across 11 communities from West Coast to Kanifing Municipality and home to over 200,000 people living along it.
The five-year project funded by World Bank is being implemented by Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources. Its goal is to build the resilience of coastal communities - covering nine countries in West Africa namely; The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Togo, Benin, Ivory Coast and Sao Tome and Principe. It is divided into two phases and phase one covers – Senegal, Mauritania, Benin, Togo and Ivory Coast and Sao Tome and Principe, while phase two covers- The Gambia, Ghana and Guinea Bissau.
Welcoming participants, Dr. Muhammed Lamin Sanyang, project coordinator of WACA project, underscored the importance of the session, saying this is a high-level technical meeting in a move to produce a good quality feasibility design that will fit in preliminary design and later the detailed engineering design.
“So, I consider this as the backbone of the entire assignment. If the feasibility is right, detailed engineering is right, the moment we have the right contractor, then we will have a very good and impactful work on the ground. But when we miss this step all the other steps will be more or less useless.”
Dr. Sanyang used the forum to urge all participants to participate fully, pointing out the reason for inviting a diverse participant group, which he said, is to ensure the document is thoroughly scrutinised to serve its purpose.
He thus urged all technical institutions to be ready to share their valuable inputs, bearing in mind that they are representing their various institutions and that their contribution is key in producing a document that will serve people.
“Also, the contribution of communities would be very important as we are here for a very high-level technical meeting.”
Paolo Mastrocola, team leader HydroNova, the consultancy firm tasked with conducting feasibility studies of the stream, spoke about the cordial working relations with all the stakeholders, further acknowledging the commitment of all stakeholders they have had an engagement with, all anchored on delivering a quality work.
“So, it was great for us to understand your commitments to this project and we look forward to seeing the best consultancy service of the Kotu Stream.”
To that end, he thanked all their local partners for their efforts and commitment to the project, further expressing optimism that through participatory-approach they will deliver quality consultancy services.
Omar Gaye, director general of Gamworks recalled that the institution was helping the project even before the actual project team was in place; from the preparation stage to hiring a consultant, adding that they have also helped in the process of the recruitment of the consultant.
DG Gaye noted that from the forum they will know whether the feasibility study, preliminary and detailed design will probably go as expected, adding that this inception is a test whether the consultant will deliver.
Mariama Ndow-Jarju, Director of the Central Project Coordination Unit (CPCU), while describing the forum as crucial, maintained that the Ministry is looking forward to such initiatives in view of its importance and the involvement of key stakeholders in the feasibility study.
The forum, she added, is something they expect all stakeholders would participate positively, further acknowledging the turn of communities.
“For them today I am sure they will be very much excited to know that already a consultancy firm has been hired that will be working the preliminary and detailed designs.”
She also spoke about their commitment in terms of National Determined Contribution (NDC), which she said, ensures that communities live a very good life and build their resilience to be able to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.
CPCU DG expressed optimism that the consultants will deliver a very quality document, while calling for the valuable contribution of all to make it a success.
