Koen@Bamako part 5

Blue Deal in West-Africa

As of April 8, the Blue Deal Program has officially started. Twenty one Dutch Water Authorities have joint forces and staged a program to help 20 million people in 40 river basins to safe, clean and sufficient water. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is co-financing this program till 2030, which provides us with the opportunity to engage in long term and solid partnerships that aim for high and sustainable impact. Sitting in Bamako behind my desk, I could quite well follow what happened during the opening ceremony in Den Hague, as many colleagues send me pictures of me ‘starring’ in Blue Deal: The Movie.

World Waternet is involved in five different Blue Deal projects in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Mali. Some partnership are new and some build upon existing relations (like with the Agences de l’Eau in Burkina Faso).

During the Blue Deal inception phase (2018), partners were sought, brainstorms organized and consortia created (or reinforced). Over 30 project initiatives were explored, ultimately resulting in nine partnerships that started implementation in April 2019.

Dutch colleagues Annette Moron and Marina Gaton execute the baseline study dor the Dji Don project within the Blue Deal.

The Blue Deal is focusing on capacity building and the strengthening of our public water partners. For our partners, the so-called ‘Theory of Change’ behind the program is to improve their performance to such extend that they are better able to attract external financing for infrastructural investments. Our partnership with the ‘Agences de l’Eau’ in Burkina Faso can serve as a nice example. Donors have shown interest to rehabilitate seven reservoirs in Burkina Faso. These reservoirs were constructed in the 1970’ and -80’ (with Dutch grants) and need profound and serious maintenance. Our Burkinabe water partners are responsible for the operation and maintenance of these reservoirs and thanks to our collaboration (and the prospect to continue Dutch support under the Blue Deal) donors have the confidence to invest. 

Curious children during one of our field visits in Bamako.

Weekends in Bamako…. and security!

Besides work, there is free time to spend. Mali being a vast and beautiful country, it offers many opportunities for interesting trips. Under ‘normal’ conditions this is. Because a ‘Coup d’Etat’ in 2012 plummeted Mali into chaotic and unsecure times, which affects every corner of the nation (and neighboring countries). The north- and center regions of Mali are under great stress of violence, attacks and unrest. The reasons are plentiful:

• since decades the Tuaregs are fighting for an independent state (Azawad) that allows them to continue their nomad lives throughout the Sahara desert;
• the north- and centre regions of Mali are important trade routes. In earlier days for gold, salt and iron, these days migrants, weapons and drugs are the commodities transported. Those controlling the trade routes can make a lot of money, so there is continuous conflict between different groups to control these routes;
• then, there are conflicts between nomadic- (rondtrekkende veetelers) and sedentary (landbouwers die op een plek blijven) groups about the access to land and water. Climate change and an ever increasing population put extra pressure on these resources (and thus the conflict);
• different international interests add to the conflict. France still has huge interests in Mali (and many other countries in West Africa). They strongly control the financial markets and the economy and have great interest in the natural resources of Mali.

Another complicating factor is that information about incidents, attacks, and the causes and relations between them is very limited. Media and independent journalism are far to be found, making it very difficult to reconstruct what actually happened. Not knowing much about 'fake-news' till the arrival of Mr. trump in the Oval Office, I now realize the importance of independent media. I am therefore happy to see Waterschap Amstel, Gooi en Vecht supports independent media in the Netherlands (Article: agv.nl/nieuws/2019/april/waterschap-steunt-onafhankelijke-journalistiek/).

All of this causes quite a bit of travel restrictions. Travel advise to the North and Centre of Mali is negative and the rest of the country is colored orange (necessary travels only) on the Dutch Embassies security map (You are leaving this website). This means our work is mainly limited to Bamako. And although Bamako is relatively safe, also here some attacks have taken place in 2015 and 2017. Most restaurants have a double door before entering the premises and there are more soldiers on the streets then in Amsterdam.

But, besides that, Bamako is safe to move around and whatever you feel like doing. And about spending the weekend… I’ll keep that for the next blog (CLIFFHANGER!!!!).

Celebration of International Women's Day: wereldwaternet.nl/en/latest-news/2019/march/international-womens-day-what-can-we-learn-from-mali/.