5th International Conference on African Rivers: taking action for sustainable and integrated governance of transboundary river basins

Africa is facing increasing pressure on its water resources due to the combined effects of climate change, sustained population growth and accelerating economic development. With around 60 transboundary river and lake basins accounting for 90 per cent of the continent’s surface water resources, a thorough understanding of climates and hydrological regimes is a fundamental prerequisite for any sustainable management approach.

It was against this backdrop that the 5th International Conference on African Rivers (ICAR 2026) took place at Mohammed V University in Rabat, from 6 to 1 July 2026. Organised on the initiative of the international research network RHYMA-CES and funded by the French National Research Institute for Development (IRD), the event received support from the UNESCO FRIEND-Water programme and the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), thereby enhancing the international visibility of regional hydrological research.

Christophe Brachet attended the event as Director of African Programmes at the International Office for Water and as a representative of the International Network of Basin Organisations, for which OiEau provides the permanent technical secretariat.

He presented the two organisations, along with their areas of expertise and their mandates, and also led an interactive workshop on transboundary water management in Africa, which helped to identify several key findings and priorities for action on the continent.

Discussions covered the equitable distribution of water resources amongst states, conflict resolution, the prioritisation and efficiency of water uses such as irrigation and hydropower, as well as the fight against pollution, particularly that resulting from mining. The challenges associated with the construction of large dams and the various models of transboundary river basin management organisations were also analysed. Participants emphasised the urgent need for greater political will and more effective use of funding, which is all too often channelled into studies at the expense of concrete action on the ground.

Finally, the discussions highlighted the need to invest more in research, to promote data collection and open access to data between countries, to strengthen links between researchers and transboundary river basin management organisations, and to fully mobilise regional bodies such as the African Union and the African Network of Basin Organisations.

In response to these challenges, OiEau and INBO support two initiatives on the ground.

In partnership with the African Network of Basin Organisations (RAOB) and thanks to funding from the European Union for the period 2024–2028, INBO is playing a central role in implementing the ‘Peer-to-Peer’ (P2P) project, which focuses on capacity-building and peer-to-peer exchanges on integrated water resources management (IWRM), an area in which African river basins are at the forefront.

As such, INBO is responsible for organising and monitoring twinning arrangements between organisations, organising events to share experiences — such as seminars, webinars and workshops — as well as producing methodological tools, which are essential for building the capacity of beneficiary organisations.

At the same time, over the last three years, OiEau and INBO have led the DYNOBA project, funded by the French Development Agency (AFD), which is specifically designed to strengthen institutional support for African transboundary river basin organisations, in particular through the sharing of experiences.

The ICAR 2026 Conference concluded with the adoption of the Rabat Declaration on the Future of African Rivers. Drafted with the support of OiEau and INBO, this landmark document sets out ten key recommendations aimed at promoting collective, inclusive actions based on scientific research, with a strong commitment from both organisations to point six, which focuses on strengthening cooperation on water and biodiversity.

1. safeguard diminishing freshwater resources
2. govern soaring water demand and consumption
3. halt the degradation of water and groundwater quality
4. combat land degradation and soil erosion threatening the water cycle
5. address dam-induced sediment deficits and accelerating coastal retreat
6. build international cooperation for shared waters and biodiversity
7. protect all people from floods and droughts — and bring wash to every doorstep
8. strengthen and sustain perennial hydrological observation networks
9. embrace all knowledges and all actors — from ancestral heritage to space and AI
10. educate for the water cycle, environment and the well-being of future generations