10.60507/FK2/YLDK1YKouassi, Valery Bessely StanislasValery Bessely StanislasKouassi0009-0005-9360-5280Department of Geography, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn, GermanyYao, Blé Amouna FhorestBlé Amouna FhorestYao0000-0002-3608-5734Unité de Formation et de Recherche Sciences et Gestion de l’Environnement, Université Nangui Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d’IvoireSoro, Gneneyougo EmileGneneyougo EmileSoro0000-0002-1672-4797Unité de Formation et de Recherche Sciences et Gestion de l’Environnement, Université Nangui Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d’IvoireGoula, Bi Tié AlbertBi Tié AlbertGoula0000-0003-2484-0904Unité de Formation et de Recherche Sciences et Gestion de l’Environnement, Université Nangui Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d’IvoireKelome, Nelly CarineNelly CarineKelome0000-0002-5693-588XDépartement des Sciences de la Terre, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, BeninKlaus, JulianJulianKlaus0000-0002-6301-1634Department of Geography, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germanybonndata2026Earth and Environmental SciencesKouassi, ValeryValeryKouassiUniversity of BonnWest African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land UseUniversité d'Abomey-CalaviDepartment of GeographyUniversity of Bonn2026-01-222026-02-262025-03-01/2025-07-30Aggregate Data1527908208322610711328302338112936391image/pngtext/plaintext/csvapplication/zipped-shapefiletext/csvapplication/zipped-shapefile1.0CC BY 4.0The West Africa Dams and Reservoirs Dataset, also called Harmonized Dataset for Dams and Reservoirs in West Africa is a West Africa-specific compiled dataset developed through the integration of twelve existing datasets. This harmonized dataset aims to address the heterogeneous data records of West African dams and reservoirs in existing datasets while enhancing the accessibility of dam and reservoir information for policy development, investment planning, and regional-scale analyses. The dataset contains 1,429 georeferenced dams and 1,258 reservoirs (with a minimum surface area of 0.57 × 10⁻³ km²), 38 attributes, and an estimated total reservoir surface area of 14,038 km² and a cumulative storage capacity of 267,369 MCM. The West Africa Dams and Reservoirs Dataset is provided in shapefile and CSV formats for both dam and reservoir entries: WA_Dams (point locations of dams in West Africa) and WA_Reservoirs (polygon representations of reservoirs in West Africa) available for download and future updates.Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS), 3.28.3University of BonnArgelander Scholarships for doctoral candidates from universities in Africa, Latin America, and South/East AsiaWest African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL)WASCAL PhD Scholarship Programme