The database, for a period of seven years (2015-2021), will be available on the WaPOR database.

Historical (January 2015 - May 2021) and near real-time data (since June 2021) on evapotranspiration, biomass production and land cover are now available on the WaPOR portal of FAO. The data is available at 30 m resolution for the Ross Bethio section of the Senegal River Basin (611 km2) and at 100 m resolution for the entire Senegal River basin covering parts of Guinea, Mali, Mauretania, and Senegal (426,139 km2).

To calibrate the 30 m land cover data, the project carried out an assessment of the land cover in the pilot area during 2020 and 2021. The assessment was possible through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Société d'aménagement et d'exploitation des terres du delta (SAED) in April 2020. The data collection work was carried out in three missions: (i) winter season 2020/2021; (ii) cold dry season 2021 and (iii) hot dry season 2021.

All key actors were involved in a series of meetings and capacity building exercises. A clear methodology was defined and adopted followed by a launch and capacity building workshop on 23 July 2020 with the participation of 26 actors including 5 women.

The WaPOR data at 30 m resolution will be used to assess the water productivity of irrigated rice cultivation in the pilot area. The assessment is being carried out by an international expert in cooperation with SAED.

Water accounting: In May 2021, the project organized a training focusing on the use of WaPOR and PROGRES databases; this training involved 20 technical staff from DGPRE, SAED, OMVS and other actors.

In June 2021, a three-day capacity building event was organized in cooperation with DGPRE on indicators 6.4.1 & 6.4.2 and the AQUASTAT platform. The training brought together about thirty experts from organizations and institutions in the water sector.

In May 2022, staff of DGPRE will be trained in operation and maintenance of the new features of the PROGRES database.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these trainings have been either in virtual or hybrid format.

Water Tenure assessment: From 29 to 30 April 2021, a training session on the water tenure assessment methodology developed under the KnoWat project was organized with the participation of about thirty stakeholders, including 8 women.

Water productivity assessment: a series of training sessions for technical experts of SAED and other partners are planned to build capacities in water productivity assessment based on remote sensing data.

For the realization of this output, FAO and the Directorate of Water Resources Management and Planning (DGPRE) of the Ministry of Water Resources signed a Letter of Agreement in January 2021, with the aim to implement "activities to strengthen water governance processes and tools in Senegal".

Inventory of hydraulic works and water withdrawals: DGPRE carried out three missions to inventory the hydraulic works and water withdrawals in the Senegal River Delta to get a more accurate picture of the use of surface and groundwater in the area. The results of the assessment have been presented in a synthesis report. According to the DGPRE, the synthesis of the results obtained from the field surveys has made it possible to update 67% of the hydraulic structures listed in the area. As for the volumes of water abstracted, it should be noted that the DGPRE, OLAC and other State services had limited knowledge of the level of water abstraction, but with the KnoWAT project, the data provided has made it possible to improve the level of knowledge on the state of the resource to more than 70%.

Optimization of the national water resources database: A computer consultant was recruited to optimize the PROGRES database developed by the DGPRE for the management of water resources. In addition to the optimization, the consultant contributes to other FAO databases such as WaPOR and AQUASTAT.

Update of AQUASTAT and SDG reporting: DGPRE, as the focal point of FAO’s AQUASTAT information system in Senegal, is working on updating the data for inclusion in the database as well as the country profile. The data will be used to report on SDG indicators on water stress. In parallel, DGPRE with support of the KnoWat project is developing a process for the regular reporting of country data to the AQUASTAT information system.

Water tenure assessment: Objective of the study is to analyze tenure arrangements deriving from formal law and customary rules, based on the assessment methodology developed under the KnoWat project. Two experts, a lawyer and a sociologist, with support of CNCR, carried out three field missions to select the research areas and collect the data needed for assessment. In addition, the legal consultant assessed the institutional and legal framework. The final report is currently under preparation. A validation mission at the local level and a validation workshop at the national level will be organized in May 2022.

Water productivity assessment : Based on the WaPOR data at 30 m resolution, an international expert in cooperation with SAED is carrying out an assessment of the water productivity of irrigated rice cultivation in the pilot area. The assessment will allow the identification of areas of high water productivity and good agricultural practices which result in productive water use.

As part of this output, FAO and the National Council for Concertation and Rural Cooperation (CNCR) signed a letter og agreement in March 2021 which focuses on "Support for the assessment of water tenure".

Support to local water governance: An awareness-raising and training manual has also been developed by the CNCR for the involvement of rural actors. In May 2022, two training courses on water resources governance are planned for local stakeholders, including farmers’ organizations in Podor and Saint-Louis in the pilot area of the project. The training will be carried out in collaboration with CNCR.

In addition, the CNCR has organized two exchange meetings on the challenges and implications of water governance with the Steering Committee on Voluntary Guidelines and Land Governance in Senegal (COPIL DV/GF) and the Platform of Civil Society Organizations for Water and Sanitation in Senegal (POSCEAS).