West Africa is at a pivotal moment in its hydro-political history. The institutional achievements of previous decades provide a solid foundation, but they must be consolidated and adapted to an environment of growing uncertainty. The current challenges are not isolated obstacles; they form a system of interconnected constraints. The response cannot, therefore, be fragmented. It must be systemic, integrated and resilience-oriented. The region’s ability to transform these constraints into opportunities will depend on its capacity to strengthen the following four pillars: (i) ongoing water diplomacy, (ii) the generation of regional scientific knowledge, (iii) the inclusion of local communities, and (iv) institutional and financial innovation.
