Integrated and concerted water resources management for the aquifer systems of lullemeden, Taoudéni/Tanezrouft and the River Niger - GICRESAIT

The GICRESAIT project follows on from the “Concerted Management of Hydrogeological Risks in the Iullemeden Aquifer System” project, or “SAI project” conducted between 2004 and 2009. Knowledge about groundwater resources is a major issue, as countries in the Sahel region are starting to take an interest in this shared resources, which has until now been managed “blindly” and individually. 

The transition from an agricultural economy based on seasonal water resources to a more “sustainable” agriculture is a major driver for economic and social development in Sahel countries. By supplying rural communities with water resources all year round, the countries concerned hope to limit the rural exodus and the overpopulation of the outlying areas of large cities.   
 

The project is based on 4 components:

• Improve knowledge about and assess the water resources of the entire system.
• Assess the vulnerability of the water resources of the system and establish a consultation framework between countries.
• Capacity building, awareness-raising and communication.
• Project management and implementation. 

• Integrated and concerted management of groundwater resources, which are less exposed to drought, with the aim of increasing the resilience of socioeconomic systems to climate risks in the medium and long term.
• Increase agricultural production and access to drinking water in rural areas far from the river and combat desertification and land degradation.