Water cooperation within West Africa’s major transboundary river basins

Abstract

This article is based on research completed in fulfi llment of a master’s dissertation. It sets out to answer the question: What is the current state of water cooperation within West Africa’s major transboundary river basins? Utilizing the 2017 Water Cooperation Quotient as a benchmark, in combination with a two-stage qualitative research design, the Niger and Lake Chad River basins are presented and analyzed to understand when, why, and how their water cooperation developed within the context of the West African region. Despite the supportive fi ndings of the Water Cooperation Quotient, the riparian states and people of these major transboundary river basins face an ongoing set of challenges to see desired and necessary water cooperation practiced effectively.