The Government of the Gambia is working towards the ratification of the United Nations 1997 Transboundary Watercourses Convention. According to officials of the Department of Water Resources, they are already at the peak of the ratification process and they hope to achieve this by the end of 2013. The convention seeks to provide a balanced and equitable regulation of the non-navigational uses of international watercourses.

This was disclosed to journalists at a day sensitization workshop for media practitioners on the UN 97 Transboundary Watercourses Convention organized by the Department of Water Resources and Gambia Country Water Partnership (GCWP) in collaboration with Global Water Partnership and Global Water Partnership for West Africa. The Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources, Mass Axi Gai, described the United Nations 1997 Convention on the law of Non Navigational uses of International Watercourses as a flexible and overarching legal framework that establishes basic standards and rules for cooperation between States on the use, management, and protection of international watercourses. Minister Gai stated that water pollution and overuse have worsened in many places and the world's poorest people are already facing shrinking supplies.

"Thus, the scale of the fresh water challenge is enormous, especially with climate change making water availability more unpredictable and causing more frequent, widespread droughts and floods. Securing water resources for meeting growing human needs, safeguarding fragile ecosystems, and maintaining economic prosperity is one of the most pressing issues of the 21st Century," he said.

According to him, The Gambia shares the River Gambia Basin with Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Senegal and thus the ratification of the UN Watercourses Convention can add value to the gaps created by the 1978 Convention relating to the status of the Gambia River and the creation of the Gambia River Basin Development Organisation (OMVG). Minister Gai explained that as at now; five West African countries have so far ratified the convention, stating that the implementation of the programme for the ratification of the UN Convention by West African Countries is not an easy task He said the workshop marks the fundamental pillar in their quest to uphold Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) processes in their national development endeavours. The countries that ratify are Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Benin and Niger, he said. For the Gambia, The Water Resources Minister explained that the ongoing advocacy for the ratification has raised strong interest as the process is on track and there is optimsm for the achievement of the goal by the end of 2013. He stressed the need for all actors including the media to be sensitised on the issue in order to bring the process to a good timely end. Minister Gai said the UN 97 watercourses convention ratification process has received a strong attention from the Department of Water Resources under his Ministry together with the Gambia Country Water Partnership (GCWP) leading the advocacy process.

According to him, the Gambia Government is aware of the problems linked to transboundary waters which can lead to the retardation of its socio economic development and most importantly the role it plays in enhancing governemnt's efforts to reduce poverty as well as meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). He highlighted some of the activities undertaken by the government towards the ratification of the process such as the elaboration of the National Water Policy 2007, adding they are currently reviewing the 1979 Water Act.

Speaking earlier, the Communication Officer, Global Water Partnership, West Africa, Sidi Coulibaly, explained that the advocacy process for the ratification of the UN International Watercourses Convention started back in the last months of 2011 in the Gambia.

And since then, they have gone a long way just after the first meeting in September 2011.Mr. Coulibaly stated that at date, five West African Countries and 30 countries worldwide have ratified the convention and for it to enter into force, five more countries have to ratify it.

He expressed hope that Gambia will be the next country to send its instrument to the UN commission . He said the workshop with the media is meant to give voice to what has been done and needs to be completed in the Gambia for the country to be among the first ones in the process. He stated that 2013 has been decided by the UN as the International year of Water and a lot of attention is on transboundary Water generally and the Convention in particular.

The Deputy Director of Water Resources, Bernard Edward Gomez, who delivered a statement on behalf of his Director described water as important towards the livelihood of people and the environment. He said as the population of the world continues to grow, the demand for water increase is placing greater stress on a finite resource. "Recognising that water is the most limiting factor to national development aspirations, through its restrictions on agricultural production in the Gambia and indeed our subregion, any effort geared towards the improved governance of water should be given adequate attention and commitment.

Mr Gomez stated that the country as a coastal state shares the Gambia River Basin with its neighbours and in terms of renewable water resources of the country, up to 85 per cent comes outside the national territory. "Water is characterized by pervasive spillover effects.

Water use by one group or region affects the water availability and security of others. Taking into consideration the shared nature of both our surface and ground waters, the need for a legal overarching framework between The Gambia and her neighbours in order to ensure a balanced and equitable use and management of water resources, is very urgent indeed", he remarked.