From DAKAR to NEW YORK

A journey to promote the role of transboundary basin agencies as agent of peace

On the road to the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar in March 2022, the Senegal River Basin Development Organization (OMVS) and its partners implemented the "Voices of the River, Pathways to Peace" initiative, which:

Inspired strategic and creative reflection on water-related issues between groups that would otherwise rarely meet: riverside communities, OMVS policy-makers, celebrities and water management experts.
Gave a voice to the local communities to raise their concerns on the future of the basin, for accessing water, land and jobs and to strengthen peace in the basin.
Created the hit album “Voices of the River, Pathways to Peace” for social cohesion with Senegalese River stars Baaba Maal, Daara J Family, Fatoumata Diawara, Noura Mint Seymali, Sékou Kouyaté and Noumoucounda, which performed live in festivals in Senegal River Basin and at World Water Forum in Dakar.
Developed a strategic digital platform to further incentivise local entrepreneurship throughout the Senegal River Basin.

Now the initiative will take its winning approach to the UN in New York, to call all policy makers to:

Share water to address socioeconomic fragility, thereby preventing and transforming crisis
Prioritise socio-economic development, particularly of youth and women, around domestic and productive uses of water
Provide technical and financial support to unleash the potential of youth for entrepreneurship
Work with artists to value the role of culture for peace and development
Manage water and land conjunctively towards resilient and sustainable basin management

View the 2 key events at UN 2023 Water Conference

Side-event "Sharing Water in fragile context : Lessons from the Sahel"

Here

Special Event 4 "Water Leadership : Uniting for a Sustainable World"

Here

Video restitution of the 2022 initiative

02:56

Baaba Maal porte la Voix du Fleuve pour la paix au 9ème Forum mondial de l'eau 2022

Le 21 septembre 2021, journée internationale de la paix, le musicien sénégalais Baaba Maal s'est rendu à Genève, au Palais des Nations, pour lancer un appel à s'engager en faveur de l'eau et de la paix. Il invite les population riveraines du Fleuve Sénégal à prendre part à un dialogue sur les enjeux de leur bassin. Visitez https://www.voixdufleuve-voiedelapaix.org.

03:33

Mr Jean WILLEMIN de Geneva Water Hub au 1er Forum économique de Podor

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03:36

Fleuve Sénégal - Daara J Family & The Voices Of The River [Lyric Video]

"Fleuve Sénégal" est la chanson épilogue du disque "Voices Of The River: Pathways To Peace". Composée et interprétée par Daara J Family, elle réunit tous les artistes de l'album : Baaba Maal, Fatoumata Diawara, Noura Mint Seymali, Noumoucounda et Sékou Kouyaté. ◆ Ecouter le single Fleuve Sénégal de Daara J Family & The Voices of the river : https://player.believe.fr/v2/3616844657248 ◆ Ecouter l'album "Voices Of The River: Pathways To Peace" : https://player.believe.fr/v2/3616841206890 ◆ Découvrir l'initative "Voix du Fleuve, Voie de la Paix" : https://www.voixdufleuve-voiedelapaix.org/ ◆ Suivez, partagez Voie du Fleuve, Voie de la Paix : www.instagram.com/lesvoix_dufleuve/ www.facebook.com/Lesvoixdufleuve #voixdufleuve2022 #voicesoftheriver2022 #daarajfamily #baabamaal #fatoumatadiawara #nouramintseymali #noumoucounda #sekoukouyate #Dakar2022 #FASO2022 #MILKMUSIC #GLOBE #ForumMondialdelEau #WorldWaterForum9 #EAU #Senegal #kebetu #Mauritanie #Mali #Guinée ◆ Production : Milk Music ©

13:28

Restitution « Voix du fleuve, voie de la paix » - Film complet

En cette journée mondiale de la paix, l’OMVS et ses partenaires célèbrent tous les acteurs qui s’engagent pour la paix du bassin du fleuve Sénégal. Le projet « Voix du fleuve, voie de la paix » présenté à Dakar au 9e Forum mondial de l’eau a permis de faire entendre ces voix. Des artistes de renommée internationale menés par Baaba Maal ont porté cette initiative marquant l’urgence de réduire les fragilités socio-économiques du bassin et réinventer le rapport aux communautés. Le Pôle Eau Dakar, IPAR, le Geneva Water Hub, le SIE et le RIOB accompagnent l’OMVS dans la création d’un fonds bleu servant de plateforme de soutien à l’entrepreneuriat local.

“Initiative Dakar 2022” label

CULMINATION AT THE 9TH WORLD WATER FORUM

Including restitution sessions, panels, and musical performances between MARCH 23 TO 25, 2022 AT DIAMNIADIO.

Discover

MUSIC ALBUM

Calling for commitment to water and peace between peoples, produced by french label MILK MUSIC, with internationally renowned artists from the four countries bordering the Senegal River: Baaba MAAL, Daara J FAMILY, NOUMOUCOUNDA, Fatoumata DIAWARA, Noura MINT SEYMALI, Sékou KOUYATÉ

Listen

FESTIVAL A SAHEL OUVERT

Organized by the GLOBE Association and mobilized as a rural consultation framework for panels, workshops and concerts, from February 25 to 27, 2022 around the theme of water and peace. The results of the initiative, which brought together community representatives, youth associations, artists, decision-makers, officials, and technical experts, were presented to the Forum in a document entitled “the Call of MBOUMBA”

Program

DEVELOPMENT OF A BLUE FUND CONCEPT

Development which act as a financial incentive mechanism for entrepreneurship, job creation and the strengthening of social cohesion in the SENEGAL RIVER basin.

Learn more

YOUTH CONTEST

To mobilize and engage young people, in which 10 project ideas led by young people were selected for their innovative and insightful aspects around water and employment. Among this group, 4 WINNERS received technical and financial support for the implementation of their projects.

Discover

Read "The Call of Mboumba" [FR]

Read "The Mboumba Call" [UK]

VOICES OF THE RIVER ARTISTS

6 major artists from the countries bordering the Senegal River were invited to compose a collaborative musical suite to convey a message of cooperation and peace between peoples.