LVBC & UNEP Team posing for a group photo 23rd October 2019 at LVBC Offices, Kisumu, Kenya
The team from the United Environment Programme (UNEP) and Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) held discussions centered on progress of implementation for Adapting to Climate Change in Lake Victoria Basin (ACC-LVB) Project coordinated in 5 East African Community (EAC) Partner States.
The meeting held at LVBC Headquarters, Kisumu, Kenya from 22nd-23rd October 2019 aimed at discussing project implementation progress, existing challenges and drawing momentum to fast-track the implementation moving forward.
LVBC Executive Secretary Dr. Ally Said Matano referred to the project as catalytic and responsive to existing climatic challenges in Lake Victoria Basin. LVBC Executive Secretary cited weather extremes such as floods after drought in EAC Partner States as practical examples of relevance of project interventions on adaptation climate change risks and vulnerabilities.
He lauded the existing mutual partnership between UNEP and LVBC as evidenced by the present project on adaption to climate change and other foreseeable partnership opportunities in the future.
He guided the technical project management and oversight team to approach the project implementation with an end in mind because it guarantees clarity towards achieving the project intended outcomes and impacts.
Essey Daniel, Programme Officer from UNEP shared with participants the uniqueness of the project, its responsiveness to existing climate change vulnerabilities and risks at regional, national and community levels of East African Community Partner States.
He acknowledged the complexities of the project specifically being the first of its kind in Lake Victoria Basin region of the East African Community. Examples cited as complexities included differences in levels in terms of mainstreaming adaptation, mitigation and climate resilience in policies, plans, priorities of EAC Partner States and transboundary nature of the project.
Essey underscored that whereas the project has specific activities, project management team should also prioritize existing peoples’ strategies of adapting to climate change at local levels. He also acknowledged the catalytic nature of the project and heralded future partnerships between LVBC and UNEP building on potential best practices from the present project.
The meeting discussed LVBC governance structure, project implementation status and strategies for fast-tracking implementation strategies for project activities, procurement and finance components of the projects among others.
Closing the meeting, LVBC Executive Secretary, Dr. Ally-Said Matano noted that meeting acted as an induction for some new members joining the project and reviewing implementation status. He reiterated the good political will, LVBC stakeholders convening advantage and complementary expertise which will contribute to the realization of the project objectives.
Overall, Adapting to Climate Change in Lake Victoria Basin (ACC-LVB) Project aims at reducing vulnerability to the negative effects of climate change in Lake Victoria Basin. Key project outcomes are institutional and technical strengthening, timely sharing of climate change related information with national policy-makers, technical officers and local communities, reduced community vulnerabilities, enhanced regional climate change resilience and improved knowledge sharing for effective decision-making in the Lake Victoria Basin.
Participants to the meeting were Eng Hilda Pius Luoga, Acting Deputy Executive Secretary for Programmes and Projects for Lake Victoria and Projects Development Officer, Adapting to Climate Change in Lake Victoria Basin Manager, Dr. Masinde Bwire, and other Project teams from Lake Victoria Basin, among others.
