Opening of the seminar - Palestinian officials with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Organization for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS)
Representatives of Senegalese Water Authorities and Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Palestinian officals at Diama dam
Palestinian officials at OMVS in Dakar
Palestinian officials at the Park Djouj, North of Senegal
Presentation at SAED (National Company for the Lands of the Delta of the Senegal River)
Feedback session with the Palestinian officials- OMVS representative; Ambassador of Palestine in Senegal
From 21 to 25 October 2019, the Government of Senegal (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Organization for the Valorisation of the Senegal River) and the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People organized a Seminar Visit for Palestinian officials on best practices in water management. The seminar was held in Dakar, on 21-22 October, followed by a visit to the Senegal River (incl. Diama Dam) on 23-24 October. Participants represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Water Authority of the State of Palestine.
The study visit consisted of interactive presentations on best practices by Senegalese experts based on the case of the Senegal River to help address Palestine’s challenges in water availability, ground water access, wastewater treatment, water quality and peaceful negotiation of transboundary water issues.
The study visit was beneficial for both parties, providing direct links between Palestinian and Senegalese experts to exchange ideas and knowledge. With Palestinian officials having received direct insight into water management methods and practices in Senegal and its neighbouring countries, it was suggested to follow this capacity building activity via an ongoing dialog and cooperation. In that context, Palestine offered to provide expertise to Senegal on advanced irrigation techniques, archiving procedures and biodiversity surveying methods, within the context of South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC).