Transboundary Water Basins in IGAD Region

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Resource ID

cb077fb4-3338-11eb-b429-02d5b8a24ad6

Date

Nov. 30, 2020, 6:21 p.m., Publication

Abstract

The IGAD sub-region represents one of the marginal regions of the world in terms of available rainfall. About 80% of the IGAD sub-region is arid and semi-arid with low levels of water use. IGAD has a population estimated at 286 million in 2019 and projected to reach 545 million in 2050 in an area of 5.2 million km2. The populations derive their livelihoods from water and land based primary production activities such as nomadic pastoralism and subsistence agriculture in a region where rainfall variability is high.

Edition

Version 1.0

Responsible

IGAD_SEC

Point of Contact

Purpose

The IGAD sub-region as a whole is not on track to meet the SDG goal 6 that is to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. With the exception of Djibouti where the proportion of the population that have access to improved sanitation is within the 50-75% range, the rest of the IGAD countries are below the 50% mark. Though Djibouti has had the highest proportion of population with access to improved sanitation, the coverage has seen a decline from 66% in 1990, to 63% in 2000 and to 56% in 2008. Progress in the use of improved sanitation is undermined by high population growth, especially in urban centres, which puts a strain on water resources, infrastructure used to deliver water and sanitation infrastructure and facilities

Maintenance Frequency

unknown

Type

vector

Restrictions

exclusive right to the publication, production, or sale of the rights to a literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic work, or to the use of a commercial print or label, granted by law for a specified period of time to an author, composer, artist, distributor

No other restrictions

License

Not Specified

Language

eng

Temporal Extent

Start

Nov. 30, 2020, 9:24 p.m.

End

Nov. 30, 2020, 9:24 p.m.

Supplemental Information

<h4>Policy Initiatives</h4> The policies of the Governments in the IGAD Sub-Region to promote industrial development including irrigation and to increase access to safe drinking water to majority of the population make freshwater, whether surface or underground, a focal issue in government strategies. The IGAD region water resources policy has proposed measures to be undertaken and investments to be targeted to reduce the problems in the deficit areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, and Uganda. The private sector will become a key player in the water sector as realistic values are attached to freshwater. Common vision, mission, broad objectives, policies, and strategies for the development and management of areas of common interest have been developed so that the following issues can be overcome or avoided altogether: (i) lack of a coordinated cross-sectoral and integrated approaches to problems and solutions at individual governments levels, (ii) increased conflict of interest among institutions and states, and (iii) duplication of efforts and waste of resources both at domestic and sub-regional levels. The Shared Vision: “Economically prosperous, socially just and environmentally sound transboundary basins for the benefits of the present and future generations in the IGAD region.” The Mission: “To promote and coordinate sustainable development, conservation, utilization, and management of water and related resources of the transboundary water basins for the mutual benefits of the people of the Sub-Region by implementing strategic programmes, projects and activities, and generating scientific data and information to guide policy decision making and implementation of any development programmes.”   <h4>Institutional Arrangement</h4> All IGAD countries except Eritria and Somalia, have well established water resources development and management institutions with national policies, strategies, laws, and water master plans which have been undergoing regular reforms. They updated their old national policies and legal frameworks as well as their strategies and master plans for water resources development and management in late 1990s and in 2000s because water issues by then became the subject of increasing international concerns and debate. Besides environmental concerns and commitment to regional and international organizations to which each country subscribes, the member states appear willing and ready to collaborate on the development and management of their transboundary water resources. The policy, legal, and institutional frameworks as well as, the common strategies and their key elements, the protocol for information and data sharing and exchange, and the plans for human and institutional capacity building are similar to that for the joint TRBO, and can be applied to a single or more shared river basin resources in the IGAD Sub-Region. Development of a Transboundary River Basin Organization(s) (TRBO) includes the setting up of a transboundary consultative mechanism, the RPSC and the Working Group, at IGAD level to implement the preliminary aspects for the establishment of the mechanism. The proposed framework will be implemented in two stages. Initially, its Coordinating Secretariat will be housed within IGAD Secretariat as a dedicated mechanism for the development and management of the shared river basin resources. The Directorate will gradually be transformed into an independent functioning body, the “Commission” or “Organization” outside of IGAD Secretariat but within IGAD framework, after a period of five years. The evolutionary process of the institutional framework will also aim at having one single Sectoral Council of Ministers for the TRBO to deal with all projects and programmes in any of the shared river basins.   <h4>Framework for Water Demand Management</h4> A strong institutional and legislative framework at all levels of transboundary water resources management is key to successful implementation of integrated water resources management and can help to promote political and economic cooperation between riparian states, transparency and create trust. It is also clearly demonstrated that the role of the river basin organizations is crucial to ensure the proper design, planning, management and development of transboundary water resources. However cooperation on transboundary water management is a long process that needs strong political commitment and should include the collection of reliable data and monitoring Although the existing trans-boundary water basins is often seen as a source of conflict and tension between and among riparian countries, in reality the development of trans-boundary water basins can also serve as a unique vehicle for promoting sub-regional and regional co-operation and thus promote peace, harmony and social and political stability across the region. - Transboundary water management is a great opportunity to promote and implement the great objectives and ideals of regional initiatives like the NEPAD or the Millennium challenge account. Policies, strategies, and objectives of cooperation and how to achieve them shall be set out in the proposed IGAD Regional Water Resources Protocol (legal instruments) to be signed by the riparian Member States of IGAD to the agreement. This will include agreements on (a) the Status of the water resources, (b) exchange and sharing of information and data, (c) investment policies, (d) establishment of transboundary organization(s) for water resources development and management, (e) service providers and IWRM, (f) regulations for water quality, (g) regulations for water quantity, and (h) regulations on environmental standards. The success of the proposed institutional framework will depend upon the Member States’ enactment of legislative and policy changes, approval and refining the frameworks, provision of political support, involvement of stakeholders, and guiding the provision of support by development partners.

Data Quality

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the map presentations do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the IGAD concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, area of its authorities, place names, or the delineation of its frontiers or boundaries

Extent

x0: 17.401436531570700
x1: 51.450488560998300
y0: -6.247196526298580
y1: 25.053577751711900

Spatial Reference System Identifier

EPSG:4326

Keywords

no keywords

Category

Inland Waters

Regions

Africa , Eritrea , Ethiopia , Kenya , Somalia , Uganda , Sudan , South Sudan

Resource Metadata

Transboundary Water Basins in IGAD Region