LOCAL CONTEXT AND ISSUES:
The Sanaga river basin features the biggest hydropower capacity in the country, already exploited by the Edea and Song Loulou power stations. Three regulating reservoir dams are currently in operation on the Sanaga basin, with a total capacity of 7,600 hm3. The most recently built reservoir dam is Lom Pangar.
On the Sanaga river basin, the impacts of climate change are and will continue to be as diverse as the agroecological variety in the regions on the basin.
The basin is very rural with a relatively small population (except for downstream) compared to the rest of Cameroon. Pressures on water are intensifying, in particular upstream, notably following the construction of Lom Pangar Dam.
The Sanaga River has different strategic centres:
- Major development focus for Cameroon through hydropower.
- Heart of the country’s biodiversity.
- Difficulties in setting up a dialogue process to fairly share water resources and protect them.
Apart from Sanaga, the incubation territory could include all or part of Nyong basin and other coastal rivers
PROJECT GOALS:
- Improve water management in the Sanaga river basin.
- Develop Integrated Water Resources Management in the Sanaga basin.
SDGs TARGETED BY THE PROJECT:
CHALLENGES FACING THE PROJECT:
IWRM – Stakeholder participation – Climate change – Ecosystems and biodiversity – Water supply and sanitation
SECTORS CONCERNED:
Energy - Coastline – Biodiversity – Energy Security – Water supply and sanitation – Risk management (erosion, drought, flooding) - Protection and management of water and land ecosystems – Resilience of users
EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
Nature-based solutions
- Combat flooding
- Combat erosion and control of runoff
- Preserve biodiversity
Water resource and sanitation engineering
- Access to potable water
- Access to sanitation
Modernisation and reinforcement of governance
- Stakeholder participation: users, civil society, private sector, local authorities

Sanaga River Basin © EDC Electricity Development Corporation
PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS:
Stakeholders involved:
Ministry of Energy and Water (MINEE)
Project leader:
Directorate of Water Resources (DGRE)
Project operators:
National Water Partnership, GWP, GESCOD, others
Technical partners:
Rhin-Meuse Water Agency (AERM), International Office for Water (IOWater), others
Others
Other departments, ministries and associations concerned