The project is focused on the two principal river basins in the West African sub-region, the Niger and Senegal River Basins, and addresses riverine contamination issues related mostly to irrigated-farming activities. Trends in all six countries are towards increased use and dependence on agro-chemicals, which has, ironically, contributed to declining long-term agricultural productivity, environmental quality and human well-being, through toxic contamination of food-chains and disruption of ecosystem services, such as natural pest suppression and pollination. Explosive outbreaks of pest problems are often triggered by insecticide use (insecticide-induced pest resurgence). Other negative trends include decreasing soil fertility, contamination of waterways, detrimental shifts in aquatic ecosystems, and overall degradation of human and environmental health. The social and economic drivers leading to current unsustainable agricultural practices include a lack of awareness among communities regarding both the impacts and negative externalities associated with pesticide use, as well as a lack of awareness of feasible, sustainable and more profitable alternatives.

Riverine areas support the highest proportions of natural biodiversity and it is also these areas where people concentrate to collect water for cooking and drinking, where they bathe and where domesticated animals are watered. The project objectives are to raise awareness of problems and alternatives, determine baseline values for agricultural practices and water quality; then begin first efforts to monitor the aquatic systems, develop and extend feasible and sustainable alternatives, and help improve organizational and decision-making capacities within and among stakeholders and communities in the six riparian countries of the Senegal and Niger Rivers.

The project addresses both OP#10—International Waters Contaminants and OP#14—POPs reduction. It will develop local and national-level awareness-raising activities; policy studies on national pesticide use patterns, and create links with national and regional pesticide legislative bodies. It will set up water-quality assessment studies and run simulations on likely impacts on aquatic biota and human health, and help communities adopt improved and alternative production methods and community-based pesticide-monitoring systems and, finally, promote development of local, national and regional networks of stakeholders interested in improving the current situation

The outcomes will provide national-level decision-makers with solid examples for both addressing integrated development objectives and satisfying international treaty commitments. Outcomes will include substantially lowered pesticide use in the riverine communities—particularly the most toxic types, while at the same time increasing yields and net revenues for farmers.

United Nation Environment Programme

Global Environment Facility