An Overview of Water Resources Planning in West Africa

Multilateral and bilateral donors have assisted regional water resources planning organizations in West Africa during the period since independence with limited success. Development of sound plans has been hampered primarily by lack of budgetary support, ineffective management, poorly defined objectives and inadequate coordination among donors. national governments and the planning organizations. It is recommended that donors coordinate their assistance to these organizations to carry out effective water planning by minimizing functional constraints through general budgetary support combined with sharing responsibilities for organizational management. The organizations should concentrate on regional planning and de-emphasize their involvement in project execution.