Model results for the Oueme basin are now available at the MOSDEW Map Server

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The Oueme Basin The Oueme basin is located in the Republic of Benin (Westafrica) between 5° to 10°N and 1° to 3° E.

 

Political and social background The Republic of Benin is subdivided into six departments (Figure 1). Population density is between 10 and 150 inhabitants per square-kilometer. In some regions the land is intensively cultivated, but there are also forest reserves where land use is prohibited. The water resources in the Republic of Benin are controlled by the governmental organisation "Direction Générale de l´Hydraulique" which is a member of the RIVERTWIN consortium. The water sector is in a transitional process towards integrated water resources management (IWRM) at the basin scale. It is expected that new organizations will emerge of this process (e.g in case of conflict, water allocation, etc.). The Direction Générale de l'Hydraulique is in charge of water monitoring, evaluation and policy making. It is the leading organisation in the IWRM process and established in 2004 the department for integrated water management (GIRE: Gestion Integrée des Resources en Eau). The legal instrument in the water sector is from 1987 and will be probably updated by 2006. Metorological information is collected by ASECNA with a network of about 35 stations.

Overview on institutions that are concerned with water management at the river basin scale

NATIONAL WATER AUTHORITY/ WATER SUPPLY COMPANIES	RESPONSIBILITY
Direction Générale de l´Hydraulique	Water resources monitoring network
Ministère de l´Agriculture, de l´Élévage et de la Pêche	Water resources and water quality
CARDER, Cooperatives agricoles	Representation of farmers
Societe des Eaux et Electricite du Benin (SBEE)	Water supply
REDAD (NGO)	Representation nature conservation
Heads of city governments	Representation of the communal governments, waste water treatment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Framework of natural conditions and water resources The catchment of the river Ouémé is the largest within the Republic of Benin (Figure 2). It has an extension of about 50.000 squarekilometers and its major part is located within the country borders. A sub-basin (the Okapara river) is mainly situated in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The climate is of the monsoon type which is characteristic for the large subhumid Savanna zones of the world.

Hydrometric stations in the Republic of Benin (Source: Impetus)

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