During COP29, UNOWAS, in collaboration with its partners, organized two important meetings to raise awareness and mobilize public and private actors on the impact of climate change on peace and security in West Africa and the Sahel.
DAKAR, Senegal, November 21, 2024 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Barrie Freeman, carried out from 14 on November 18, 2024, a working mission to Baku, Azerbaijan, to participate in COP29.
On Monday, November 18, Ms. Freeman chaired a session on “Water security and diplomacy in West Africa and the Sahel”. Organized by UNOWAS in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Union (AU), the meeting highlighted the importance of promoting peace and development through water diplomacy. “UNOWAS will continue to work with its partners to ensure that access to water is integrated into conflict prevention strategies to strengthen peace and prosperity in the sub-region,” Ms. Freeman said in her statement. opening speech.
The meeting recommended strengthening collaboration among partners, adopting a Declaration on Water, Peace and Development, and organizing a second regional conference on climate change, peace and development to follow up on the one held in Dakar in April 2022.
Ms. Freeman also chaired a working meeting on November 14 on “Strengthening climate resilience and peace in West and Central Africa », organized by UNOWAS in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the United Nations Office for Africa (UNOCA), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NORCAP), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and GreenAid.
Participants discussed strategies that integrate climate resilience into peacebuilding, resource management and population security frameworks. “It is important to strengthen information sharing mechanisms and develop policies based on data and evidence to further inform the development of adaptation strategies in the face of the harmful effects of climate change,” she said. declared.
Ms. Freeman also had bilateral meetings with representatives of the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and the Director of NORCAP/NRC. The discussions focused on the importance of strengthening collaboration to develop cross-border initiatives in order to respond to the challenges posed by Climate Change, particularly on Peace and Security.
Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) for UNOWAS.
Source : African Media Agency (AMA)
2024-11-21 09:25:00
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How do you envision the collaboration between UNOWAS and local governments in implementing the water security initiatives outlined at COP29?
**Interview with Barrie Freeman, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Ms. Freeman. You recently attended COP29 in Baku. Can you share the significance of this conference and the role of UNOWAS in addressing climate change?
**Barrie Freeman:** Thank you for having me. COP29 provided a crucial platform for global dialog on climate change, particularly focusing on its impacts on peace and security. At UNOWAS, we recognize that climate change poses significant threats to stability in West Africa and the Sahel. Our goal at this conference was to raise awareness and mobilize both public and private actors to address these challenges collectively.
**Interviewer:** You chaired a session on “Water security and diplomacy in West Africa and the Sahel.” Why is water security particularly critical in this context?
**Barrie Freeman:** Water security is essential because water scarcity can exacerbate conflicts, hinder development, and threaten livelihoods. During our session, we emphasized the need for water diplomacy as a means to promote peace. By ensuring access to water through collaborative efforts, we can integrate water management into conflict prevention strategies, ultimately fostering stability in the region.
**Interviewer:** The meeting recommended adopting a Declaration on Water, Peace, and Development. What impact do you foresee this declaration having?
**Barrie Freeman:** The declaration will serve as a guiding framework for our partners to commit to collaborative actions that prioritize water security alongside peace initiatives. By solidifying our collective resolve, we aim to strengthen partnerships and ensure coordinated efforts to manage water resources sustainably, which is fundamental for long-term peace and development in the region.
**Interviewer:** You also discussed strengthening climate resilience and peace. What concrete steps do you believe are necessary to achieve this?
**Barrie Freeman:** It’s critical to integrate climate resilience into our peacebuilding frameworks. This means developing data-driven policies based on evidence and enhancing information-sharing mechanisms among stakeholders. We need to implement strategies that not only address the immediate impacts of climate change but also build durable systems for resource management and population security.
**Interviewer:** you had bilateral meetings with various organizations. What were some key themes that emerged from those discussions?
**Barrie Freeman:** The key theme was the necessity for cross-border initiatives to effectively tackle climate change challenges. Many of the issues we face, such as resource scarcity, do not respect national boundaries. Therefore, fostering collaboration among countries and organizations is essential to implement effective solutions that address these intertwined challenges.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Ms. Freeman, for sharing your insights. It’s clear that addressing the climate-security nexus is paramount for the future of West Africa and the Sahel.
**Barrie Freeman:** Thank you for having me. I believe that with continued collaboration and focused action, we can make substantial progress in securing a more peaceful and resilient future for the region.
