WaPOR 2 inception workshop in Mali

The 28th of September the third inception workshop of the second phase of the WaPOR project was held in Bamako. So far, inception workshops have been held in Jordan, Sudan and now Mali. 

The event gathered a wide range of national stakeholders who got together to discuss possible project activities on the basis of the needs that they have seen and experienced regarding solutions that can integrate remotely-sensed data such as WaPOR’s. Their inputs will shape a demand-driven project plan for the coming 5 years of duration of the project. Some of the stakeholders present were: representatives from river basin agencies, universities and research centers, representatives from some key ministries such as the Ministry of Rural Development, the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water, the National Directorate of Rural Engineering and Office du Niger among others for a total of 30 participants. The workshop was held in hybrid format with participants gathering in Bamako but also joining virtually. They were welcomed both by the FAO Office in Mali and the Dutch Embassy in Bamako, while the second phase of the WaPOR project was officially launched by the Ministry of Rural Development.

Active participation and group discussions identified priorities where WaPOR data could improve water productivity in Office du Niger in particular, as well as existing or forthcoming projects and databases for possible synergies.