EAC institution among top 20 World Water Cooperation Basins
The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), an institution of the East African Community, ranks among the top 20 World Water Cooperation Basins, according to the Strategic Foresight Group’s Water Cooperation Quotient Index 2015. The Water Cooperation Quotient is a tool to measure intensity of co-operation in shared river and basins globally.
This was revealed by the LVBC Executive Secretary, Dr Canisius Kanangire, during the 15th Sectoral Council of Ministers Meeting (SECOM) for Lake Victoria taking place from 31st August to 4th September 2015 in Kisumu, Kenya. The Global Water Cooperation Quotient Index was launched on 11th August 2015 in Dakar, Senegal.
“This is a good piece of news from an independent and internationally reputable think tank”, said the LVBC Executive Secretary while addressing delegates from the five EAC Partner States.
Ministerial Meetings happening on an annual or bi-annual basis focused on water co-operation and policy guidance on managing shared water resources constituted part of the indicators and scoring criteria of the Water Cooperation Quotient Index.
Dr Kanangire said that such recognition was an indication of how well organised and focused the EAC was specifically in areas of joint co-operation and management, and development of shared trans-boundary resources.
He, however, noted though EAC economies were dependent on water which is a finite resource, adding that there were significant imbalances between sustainable water resources management efforts and water withdrawals for socio-economic purposes such as urbanisation, population growth demands, etc.
Addressing the Co-ordination Committee for Lake Victoria Basin and Group of Experts from the Ministries of Water and Environment from the EAC Partner States, Dr Kanangire described the depletion of global water as alarming noting that it was precipitated by the climate change.
According to Strategic Foresight Group’s Water Cooperation Quotient, the total annual renewable water resources available in the world is estimated to be 38,000 Billion Cubic Metres (BCM).
The total water withdrawal for this year is expected to be 3,800 BCM and 5,700 BCM in 2050. The reduction of the waters of Lake Chad and Lake Turkana are examples of how serious Africa’s water crisis is.
The SECOM for Lake Victoria is one of the forums through which EAC Partner States enhance co-operation for sustainable management of shared water and other natural resources.
The Chairperson of the Co-ordination Committee for SECOM, Engineer Mbogo Futakamba, who is also the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Water in the United Republic of Tanzania, commended LVBC for its efforts in managing EAC’s shared waters of Lake Victoria in a prudent manner.
Eng. Mbogo said co-operation was the most viable method for the sustainable management of shared water resources.
Agnes Yobterik, Director for Programmes, Projects and Strategic Initiatives from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Republic of Kenya lauded LVBC for promoting, facilitating and coordinating development in the Lake Victoria Basin.