LVBC Executive Secretary Dr. Ally Said Matano presenting the state of Environment in Lake Victoria Basin, 4th October 2019, Mwanza, Tanzania
The delegation of Germany Members of Parliament (MPs) has commended the East Africa Community (EAC) and LVBC in particular for translating the German-EAC Cooperation into meaningful and impactful environmental results.
At Lake Victoria Basin level, the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) programme acts as one of the many frontiers through which Germany-LVBC regional cooperation, partnerships, institutional and capacity enhancement and investments are practically evidenced.
Hon. Sylvia Kotting-Uhe, the Chairperson of the Committee on Environment, Natural Conservation and Nuclear Safety disclosed in Mwanza, United Republic of Tanzania where the 6 team German delegation of MPs were briefed about the state of Environment in and around Lake Victoria by Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC).
“The Lake Victoria Basin has complex development challenges. There are some projects aimed at responding to some of challenges affecting biodiversity. I am so happy that the German money goes to the best use and for greater impacts in EAC region,” said delegation of Germany Members of Parliament, Hon. Sylvia Kotting-Uhe, on 4th October 2019 in Mwanza, Tanzania while talking to a team of Tanzania press.
The LVBC Executive Secretary, LVBC Executive Secretary observed that “EAC has had a long partnership with the Federal Republic of Germany since 2016 after signing the Protocol Agreement in Cooperation in Integrated Water Resources Management.”
Speaking to Germany Radio – DW Kiswahi Programme, Dr. Said Matano said IWRM value in addressing development challenges in Lake Victoria Basin in an integrated and sustainable way cannot be overemphasized. He cited issues of urbanization, unsustainable farming practices, industrialization, among others, as some of the key areas in Lake Victoria Basin IWRM would greatly impact.
“Lake Victoria is geopolitically and strategically positioned because that is where River Akagera flows into and with Lake Victoria Region has a lot of natural resources,” Dr. Matano told the attentive German delegation. For instance, “water resources supply is at 90% to cities, land and soil use 70%, mineral resources contribute 2% to GDP and wildlife contribute 300 Million United States dollars to economies in EAC Partner States,” LVBC Executive Secretary.
Also, the LVBC presented to the delegation the institutional framework of LVBC, policy frameworks, strategies LVBC uses in addressing environmental challenges in Lake Victoria Basin. Featured highly in the presentation included programmatic interventions in Lake Victoria Basin and EAC Partner States.
LVBC also presented the level of progress towards translating the objectives of the (IWRM) for the Lake Victoria into results in the five (5) EAC Partner States; Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.
IWRM’s overall objectives is to ensure the availability and the quality of water resources through regional IWRM investments and related measures. The programme seeks to achieve improved access to water supply and sanitation for the people within Lake Victoria Basin; protection of water environment; increased awareness and commitment regarding IWRM and appropriate resilience against climate change. The IWRM is funded and supported by Kwf. The IWRM-LVB programme is Euro 30 million of which Euro 20 million from KfW and Euro 10 million from EU.
Dr. Matano thanked the delegation for visiting LVBC and reiterated LVBC’s commitment to effectively implement IWRM to the expectations of German Government.
