High table at the official opening ceremony with the national Director of Water Resources of Togo in the middle
From 19 to 21 May 2026, the St Manick Hotel in Lomé (Togo) hosted the regional workshop for the amendment and validation of draft institutional capacity‑building plans, statutory documents, and other key operational tools of the Civil Society Organizations Platform of the Mono Basin (POSC‑Mono).
The opening ceremony featured three key addresses:
- the welcome remarks by the Secretary General of POSC‑Mono, Mr. Eloi Aboutou Souroudè,
- the speech by the Executive Director of the Mono Basin Authority (MBA), Mr. Gninpalé Konlani,
- and the opening statement by the Director of Water Resources of Togo, representing the Minister Delegate in charge of Water and Sanitation.
This workshop was organized within the framework of the RIWE‑Mono Project (2024‑2028), funded by the GEF, with the support of the MBA, the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), and the Global Water Partnership – West Africa (GWP‑WA).
Objectives
The workshop aimed to:
Room View of participants
- amend and validate the institutional diagnostic report of POSC‑Mono,
- enrich and adopt the budgeted capacity‑building plan,
- review and validate the statutory documents and other operational tools,
- define the institutional arrangements, partnerships, financing strategy, and monitoring & evaluation mechanisms,
- agree on a date for the next General Assembly of the platform.
Key Outcomes
After three days of interactive and participatory work, the following results were achieved:
- The institutional diagnostic report was amended and validated by members.
- The capacity‑building plan was enriched and adopted, with a clear roadmap for implementation.
- The statutory documents and operational tools were validated, strengthening the platform’s internal governance.
- Modalities for collaboration, financing, and monitoring & evaluation were defined, paving the way for effective implementation.
- A date for the next General Assembly of POSC‑Mono was agreed upon.
Participation
The workshop brought together around thirty participants, including members of the POSC‑Mono Board of Directors, national coordinations from Benin and Togo, MBA, GWP‑WA, consultants, and institutional representatives. Special attention was given to gender balance and youth involvement.
Conclusion This workshop marks a decisive step in revitalizing POSC‑Mono, positioning it as a key actor in the decision‑making process for the concerted and sustainable management of natural resources in the Mono Basin.