Background and conference rational

Transcription

1 Background and conference rational Sudan s internal water resources (non-nile), which are made up mainly of its seasonal streams and groundwater resources, sustain inner agricultural and domestic water needs. They are now predicted to be of similar amounts as Sudan s share from the Nile and they seem to be more sustainable if managed properly, although potentially vulnerable to climate change. It is believed that little attention has been given to these resources in past years and that Nile water alone would not be able to sustain growth demands in the future. Sudan s water was always managed for a particular strategic use according to the needs at the time. Understandably, as an agricultural country, Sudan s water resources were managed predominantly for the irrigation sector and, of late, for power generation. Sudan s relationship to water is predominantly for enhancing supply and harnessing the short duration of seasonal flow in Wadisfor drier periods. This is done by various engineering interventions such as building dams, and increased water points for human and animal consumption utilising ground water sources in this case. Whilst the need for developing water resources continues, it needs to be done with the future in mind taking into account natural water limitations underscored with climatic changes and seasonal variability. The increased focus on the utilization of groundwater for agricultural investment is underscored with the variability and scarcity, poor reliability and the limited water monitoring in this respect, as well as a lack of resolute groundwater or even a National promulgated Water Resources Policy. Climate change can significantly impact on the delivery of the ambitious development goals of Sudan especially agricultural production 1. Over the past 30 years, central and southern Sudan have been among the most rapidly warming locations on the globe, with station temperatures increasing as much as 0.4 C per decade. The spatial pattern of warming corresponds (broadly) with the areas associated with reduced precipitation. Western and southern Sudan are becoming drier and hotter, which is consistent with an increase in atmospheric circulation bringing dry subsiding air during the main rainy season (June September) 2. In fact, a number of commentators, journalists and analysts have recently focused on competition for natural resources, increasingly scarce due to global warming, as the trigger of the conflict in Darfur/western Sudan. The war in Darfur has immensely contributed to displacement of people and disruption of an enduring sustainable exploitation of marginal environments and meager resources examples depletion of groundwater resources in some IDPs camps. In the early nineties, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) 3 influenced many national water laws around the world. Sudan was no exception, as there were reviews of water policies that resulted in three drafts; in 1992, 2000, and The current 1995 Water Resources Law and the 2002 Water Resources Policy seem to be in line with IWRM principles and so does the 2007 policy. Despite this, implementation on the ground is weak. Institutionally, the responsibility for water resources monitoring, assessment, development, protection, use and management is uncoordinated and fragmented across a number of agencies with no defined vertical and 1 Taha, Abdelmoneim, Thomas, Timothy S. andwaithaka, Michael IFPRI, East African Agriculture and Climate Change: Sudan. 2 USGS, June, A Fact Sheet Climate Trend Analysis of Sudan 3 IWRM has resulted in shifting the international discourse from a supply oriented paradigm to a demand management paradigm. The results of many discussions and conferences at the UN summit on sustainable development of Rio in 1992 to Rio+20 in 2012, all call for adopting the sound principles of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) whose central principles are derived on the basis of (i) management of water at the local level, (ii) water resources are finite and need to be managed based on the natural hydrological boundaries, (iii) women have a role to play and (iv) water has both an economic and a social value. 1

2 horizontal relations with the states. There is no clearly defined responsibility for allocating water, regulating its use between competing needs or its monitoring and optimisation of demand/supply to cater for future needs. Whilst IWRM seem to be attractive in Sudan, it is not fully understood and hence not adequately implemented and incorporated in the various policies and strategies of water and related natural resources. To be better prepared for the future, IWRM offers good internationally recognised best practice for managing, controlling and using water resources in a sustainable manner involving water users and decision makers through viable and sustainable institutional arrangements and good scientific basis. It is based on principles in which; planning at a catchment level needs to take into account upstream, downstream inter dependencies, water requirements by competing needs including that of the environment; water affects and is affected by other natural resources such as land, mineral resources, forests, natural vegetation, etc; water being a common property resource is hence owned by people as a collective although its allocation for specific use can be granted for a finite period, monitored and shared with others; decisions regarding how water can be allocated and managed cannot be removed from the actual users and prevailing conditions as well as national and local institutional memories that determine how, where and when management can happen augmented with scientific knowledge derived from long term monitoring. In that, women make up an important part of the population and have a significant contribution to make; water has economic and social values because it can create wealth, development behavioural and cultural changes but is essential for life and as such has constitutional obligations for drinking purposes and for achieving the Global Sustainable Development Goals. A stakeholder survey of the main sectors coupled with a review of the main literature identified some challenges underpinning the sustainable development and management of water resources such as; i. the duplication of mandates and functions, ii. poor coordination, iii. weak linkages between federal and state ministries, iv. weak institutions that are not in a position to deliver expected services, and v. project-based external support, which can create unsustainable and parallel running information systems which do not contribute to the creation of comprehensive national systems. 4,5 vi. Lack of capacities and capabilities to operationalize IWRM vii. Lack of focused IWRM data and information. 4 FAO Plan of Action Reference National water strategy , DWSU 2

3 WADI EL KU (WEK) PROJECT- NORTH DARFUR STATE As part of its Humanitarian Support, in 2012 the European Union (EU) identified the need to strengthen peace through enhanced livelihoods in the face of climate change in Darfur as a priority for Sudan. In Darfur there are several seasonal streams that represent the corner stone for availing water sources for various users in rural as well as urban areas. Sustainable management of such resources is seen to be the key in strengthening the livelihoods and contributing to peace in Darfur Region. Accordingly, the WadiElku project was initiated with UN Environment and successfully concluded early in The project was implemented as a partnership between UN Environment and the State Government in North Darfur as well as Practical Action and participating communities. The goals of the project were: Support the development of inclusive natural resource management systems and structures within the Wadi El Ku, that are informed by appropriate levels of scientific and technical analysis and input; Support community-level agricultural and livelihoods adaptation, and improved local natural resource management practices; Build institutional and organizational capacities needed to understand the dynamics of the change processes, reach agricultural producers, and implement and replicate successful integrated natural resource management and Serve as a model for uptake and replication across Darfur and Sudan. The Wadi El Ku project received high level support from the State government of North Darfur. The project developed numerous tools that enhance the management of the natural resources of the catchment. The successful completion of this EU flagship project offers valuable examples of IWRM best practice and implementation to address local challenges such as large numbers of IDPs, increased demands on land and water beyond limited resources. UNEnvironment, the implementing agency with other hosts institutes are planning to organize this conference in showcasing these examples. It is anticipated that, this will offer an opportunity for policy makers and practitioners to learn from what has taken place in Sudan, and understand how sustainable water management contributes to sustainable development. Furthermore, the success of this project should leverage political will for a greater focus on IWRM approaches nationally as well as the need for the development of a long term Sudan National Water Strategic Framework. UNESCO-Chair - IWRM-Net-SD is a hosting partner. 3

4 UNESCO-Chair, Integrated Water Resources Management Network, Sudan (IWRM-Net-SD) Integrated Water Resources Management Network- Sudan (IWRM-Net-SD) is a national network initiated by UNESCO Chair in Water Resources (UNESCO CWR) for the provision of a platform to share knowledge and exchange experiences among its members and beyond to support and promote implementation of IWRM in Sudan. The rational of establishing this network is that networking and coordination could contribute in addressing challenges facing the integrated water resources development in Sudan. Members of the network include a wide spectrum of institutes involved in the various disciplines of the water resources development. The objectives of IWRM-Net-SD are: Involvement of stakeholders. Release of fragmented and duplication of efforts. Enhancement of capacity through research, exchange of experiences and lessons learned. Avail and access of data, information &knowledge repository. Enhance dissemination of information and knowledge. The IWRM-Net-SD works with a multi-sectors stakeholder, at all levels including, but not limited to: gender and various levels of decision making process, universities and research institutes, other related networks and working groups, private and community based institutions, governmental and non-governmental institutions. Conference Objectives: With the above background and rational, the conference aims to; 1. Highlight the intrinsic role water decisions play in national growth and development 2. Showcase lessons learnt and IWRM best practice from projects around the country such as the Wadi El Ku project 3. Establish high level political buy in to IWRM, including a ministerial panel and a dedicated discussion around the revitalization of the National Water Resources Council in support of National planning strategic framework. 4. Fostering the role of IWRM-Net-SD in sharing data, information, capacity building, joint multisectors research and exchange of experiences among its members. 5. Endorsement of the conference declarations. The conference target audience The conference will bring together high level political actors responsible for the management of non-nile water resources and other natural resources, including: the Minister of Water, Agriculture, Environment, Finance and International Cooperation. Key officials from FNC, WRTO, SMA. National and international International Cooperation; as well as development partners and UN agencies. Other national and international NGOs; researchers, policy makers, technical water related practitioners, private sector, media, will also be invited. A high level segment will ensure that good practices such as WEK are capable of influencing Sudan water policies and planning. 4

5 The conference structure This conference will be a two and a half days conference. The conference will be in both English and Arabic languages. Conference outcomes Pre-conference Open Environmental Forum around Waste Water in Sudan, Conference declarations, Proceedings and all presentations), UNESCO special publication of selected peer reviewed papers; post conference and Media coverage; TV footage, radio and u tube available on the web sites of partners Exhibitions All partners and interested stakeholders in IWRM will be invited to exhibit their work at the venue. A shell scheme will be provided. LIST OF EXHIBITING PARTNERS UN Environment European Union (EU) JICA UNICEF ZOA DFID Practical Action UNOPS UNESCO Chair in Water Resources Ministry of Water Resources, Irrigational and Electricity Ministry of Agriculture National Centre for Research, Environment and Natural Resources and Desertification research institute Sudan Youth Parliament for Water (SYPW) Gazira University GAMA International Company ECO-Sudan 5