With support from the Federal Government of Germany, the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) and the East African Community Secretariat officially launched the Integrated Water Resources Management (TC-IWRM) project to be implemented by GIZ in Kisumu, Kenya on 6 July 2022.
The TC-IWRM project aims at achieving strengthened capacities of LVBC and EAC Secretariat institutions in Integrated Water Resources Management as a pathway towards sustainable development in the Lake Victoria Basin Region covering parts of 5 EAC Partner States.
According to the LVBC Executive Secretary, Dr. Bwire K. Masinde, expected results of the projects are harmonized policies, strategies and guidelines to further improve lake level management, water quality improvement and Lake Victoria Catchment management as part of the LVBC's mandate. He therefore applauded the support from the Federal German Government as “additional expression of deepening partnership and friendship between LVBC/EAC and the Federal Government of Germany.”
In his statement, Dr. Bwire underscored the linkages between the GIZ project and LVBC's vision which seeks to “ensure people living within the Basin live in a healthy and sustainably managed environment opportunities and benefits.”
The launched project will also contribute towards enhancing the resource mobilization role of LVBC and contribute to sustainability of the existing development initiatives such as High Priority Investments (HIPs) yet to be implemented in 5 EAC Partner States. HPIs are funded by Federal Government of Germany through KfW and in cooperation with the European Union.
The German Head of Delegation, Ms Claudia Imwolde-Kraemer, Deputy Head of the Division for East Africa, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, emphasized the important role the LVBC plays in the EAC-German cooperation: “The sustainable management of natural resources and combating the effects of climate change are important elements in German cooperation. We therefore decided to substantially increase our support to the work of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission in this regard and are looking forward to a continuation of our excellent cooperation under the commission’s new management.”
The IWRM project is financed at a tune of EUR 3.3 million and is an additional contribution to the LVBC’s sustainable development agenda. Project beneficiaries include EAC Secretariat, LVBC, EAC Partner States, institutions within EAC Partner States responsible for water resources management, representatives of civil society and the private sector. The project will also contribute towards promotion of sustainable economic use and environmental protection of the EAC’s water resources with specific focus on regional frameworks and promotion of effective Integrated Water Resources Management.