VBA

The Volta Basin Authority (VBA) is an agreement between Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Togo to promote and reinforce co-operation among them in the management and development of the Volta Basin, which is estimated to be 400,000 square kilometres and covers areas of the six countries. The VBA aims to harmonise national policies on integrated water resources management in the Basin, the ninth largest basin in Sub-Saharan Africa with a population of about 14 million people who depend directly or indirectly on the resources of the River. It coordinates studies and research throughout the Basin for the development of the water resources, in particular the supply of water to the populations, hydro power production, irrigation, animal husbandry, fishing and conservation of aquatic systems.

The mandate of the VBA is to:

1. Promote permanent consultation tools among the parties for the development of the basin;
2. Promote the implementation of integrated water resources management and the equitable distribution of the benefits resulting from their various utilizations;
3. Authorize the development of infrastructure and projects planned by the stakeholders and which could have substantial impact on the water resources of the basin;
4. Develop joint projects and works;
5. Contribute to poverty alleviation, the sustainable development of the Parties in the Volta basin, and for better socioeconomic integration in the sub-region.