Long-standing partners share their views

Since 2014, OiEau has worked with the French Development Agency (AFD) within the framework of a partnership aimed at coordinating action to reinforce the capacity of Transboundary Basin Organisations, especially large African rivers (Congo, Niger and Senegal). The activities are devoted to capitalising on and disseminating best practices, particularly in the field of hydrological knowledge and the planning of water resource usage. In particular, OiEau coordinates the working group on the altimetric measurement of rivers by satellites, initiated by the AFD and the CNES, whose work has many applications in these basins. All these activities are carried out in accordance with the commitments made by France in international agreements on transboundary rivers and resonate positively in the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO), for which OiEau acts as Secretariat. For AFD, this represents an important collaboration aimed at meeting the challenges of adapting to climate change and preserving biodiversity through integrated water resources management (IWRM), which should be applied to many other situations observed in the projects we finance. OiEau's contribution is also worthwhile because of its detailed knowledge of IWRM mechanisms, in particular in its French model, in contact with the basin
agencies.

The cooperation between OMVS and OiEau is a high quality cooperation which has lasted for almost twenty years. It is a valuable, efficient and demanding cooperation which has taken the form of a partnership that has enabled
many activities to be carried out that meet the needs of our different structures, which are satisfied with it. Indeed, it concerns both very technical topics, related to the regional infrastructures of OMVS (dams, ancillary equipment, etc.), and institutional ones related to governance and quality monitoring.
OiEau and OMVS also share the permanent technical secretariat of INBO and ANBO respectively. Within this framework, OiEau and OMVS have regularly associated themselves in the major international initiatives for, among other things, promoting concerted and sustainable management of transboundary waters.

So much progress has been made during these last 10 years, understanding and good mood are the key words which guided this cooperation between OiEau and the Tonle Sap Authority of Cambodia. Privileged witness since the beginning, the "discovery" of Stung Sen under the monsoon in October 2012, by the Delegation of the Loire-Brittany / Rhine-Meuse Water Agencies - OiEau, led by Mr. Jacques OUDIN, will remain an unforgettable memory.

Water Agencies have established a long-standing partnership with OiEau. Indeed, OiEau's missions and know-how overlap with our scope of action. For example, OiEau plays a role in standardising data for the national water data system, in training those involved in the water sector in our drainage basins and in developing integrated water resources management internationally.
Through its expertise, positioning and international recognition, OiEau gives high visibility to France's water management model. By organising events (e.g. for INBO and Euro-INBO), it is also in a position of influence. We are faced with several major challenges and OiEau's support will be valuable in addressing them. One of our shared challenges is to provide support in the structuring of project management for small and large water cycles. Climate change is a cross-sectoral issue so it provides an opportunity for innovative cooperation.
It is in our interest to increase the exchange of best practices and experience feedback, as is the case with institutional cooperation where Water Agencies, supported by OiEau, work hand in hand with foreign authorities wanting to structure water management on the scale of their river basins.

As water is a resource valued by one and all and plentiful in our region, each institution takes an interest in it at its own level, and for good reason! Our region is undoubtedly one of France's greenest and most wellpreserved region, thanks to the rivers that irrigate it. Moreover, it was in Limoges that the first university courses on water was created. It boasts the presence of all levels of training, engineering schools and OiEau, which plays a major role in vocational training and is recognized for its public utility; more than one-third of executives involved in water followed a training course at our University. Today's wealth of opportunities is largely due to the presence of OiEau which has made it possible to adapt, improve and develop skills to better manage water.
The urban community, through its Regional Water Transition project, relies on the "Water Sensitive Cities" network, which aims to make cities liveable, resilient, sustainable and productive. By committing to this innovative approach on a national scale, we aimed to unite watersector players and set up process that would provide a structure to companies in the water sector. Our first partner was naturally OiEau, which is an integral part of our steering committee and which assists Limoges Métropole in the whole implementation of the project. I emphasize the fact that we enjoy a favourable ecosystem in this field, and it is essential for us to rely on our local players in order to carry out large-scale actions and have long-term partnerships. Who better than OiEau to take part in the governance of this project?