Presentation by: Amb. Eugene MUNYAKAYANZA

Transcription

1 Presentation by: Amb. Eugene MUNYAKAYANZA

2 OUTLINE Background information Rationale and Opportunity of creation of ABAKIR Objectives and roles of ABAKIR enshrined in the Convention Priority actions and stakeholders Challenges Current and future key actions

3 1. Background information Indicative Limit of Lake Kivu and Rusizi River Basin Lake Kivu Watershed Area: 5430 Km2 Ruzizi River watershed:325 km2 Countries: Burundi Democratic Republic of Congo Rwanda Estimated population 2.2 millions

4 1. Background continued Need to use water resource for electricity generation from hydropower and methane gas; presence of hydropwers Ruzizi I, II and the projected Ruzizi III and Kivu Watt and others(total potential 700MW) Need for the fight against pollution Need for the regulation of the diverse uses of water resource July 6, 2011: Decision of the three member states of the basin, namely Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, to create the Authority for Lake Kivu and the Ruzizi River Basin, ABAKIR in charge of the IRWM in the basin. This basin is one of the Africa 80

5 Background information continued Stresses observed in the basin Pollution of the Lake Kivu and the Ruzizi river by sediments, solid and liquid wastes from surrounding cities, plants, mines and households, eruptions in the area Deforestation and non appropriate agricultural activities which causes soil erosion Destruction of the biodiversity and ecosystems Environment pressures from human economic activities and climate change with a highly population density ( more than 400 habitants per square km) Non protection of the lake shores Methane gas extraction that can harm the stability of the lake

6 2.Rationale of Creation of a Trilateral Authority for the Integrated Water Resources Management in Lake Kivu and Ruzizi River Basin Need for promoting regional cooperation in the area of Integrated Water Resource Management through the framework of an International Convention International Convention relating to the creation of the Authority and the Statutes of ABAKIR were signed by State Parties in Kinshasa (DRC) on 4th November ABAKIR transitional structure launched in January 2013 under European Union financial support

7 2.Rationale of ABAKIR (ctd) The development of the economic infrastructures in energy and transport sectors in the basin needs a regulatory body to ensure the sustainable use of the resources. The use of shared water resource to generate hydro power from Ruzizi cascade in Public- Private-Partnership( PPP) urged to establish a Trilateral Authority for the integrated management of this resource with a mandate of regulation of its different uses for the common benefits of the riparian states:ruzizi I(30 MW),II(43,8 MW), III(147 MW) et IV(287MW). Financial support expressed by WB,AfDB,BEI,KfW,AFD,EU,DBSA

8 3.Roles of the Authority The global objectives of ABAKIR is : i) to ensuring protection for water resource, and ii)to enhancing regional cooperation between partner states. Specifically it is stemmed from the 1997 UN Convention on International water courses has to : pursue and develop a strong cooperation and make every effort to achieve the defined objectives and to enable the application of the general principles of Subsidiarity, Polluter Pays and User Pays, Preventive action, Participation and Fair and equitable benefit sharing; cooperate on the fundamental issues of the IWRM and take all the judicial, administrative and technical measures required to keep and, as far as possible, improve the water quality and quantity of the Basin; support the activities of the institutions that can be established under the present Convention;

9 3.Roles of the Authority(Ctd) ensure the exchange of available information and data concerning the quantity, quality and use of the water resource in the Basin ; notify the State parties any useful information in case of emergency situations; Promote joint research; make sure that measures contained in the action plans are integrated into policies, strategies, programs and plans of the member countries and follow up the implementation of these programs. Implement common works in good faith and share benefits thereof in a fair and equitable way

10 4.Examples of Need for Regulation Management biodiversity Gas Extraction in Lake Kivu Control of Pollution

11 4.Need for Regulation by ABAKIR(ctd) Fishing Environment Irrigation Construction of hydropower

12 5.Key planned actions Lake Kivu view Establish a preliminary inventory of the state of the resource and its current uses Prepare the strategic and operational action plans and funding Carry out an inventory of the water resources Establish common rules concerning the priority regulations of water resources. Develop a system of analysis for quality and quantity control of water resource. Establish tools for the monitoring of the quality and quantity of water in the basin.

13 6. Challenges Few studies on the state of the water resource of the basin; The different degradation actions on the water resource and the environment in the basin because of no respect or inexistence of proper regulation; Lack of harmonization of the laws for the different of water resource Weak interaction between riparian folks and water resource users,lot of pressure on the water resource and no coordination of actions addressing the negative effects; The lack of adequate funding for implementation of climate change mitigation projects, the sensitization and awareness campaigns; Limited engagement of development partners to support

14 7.Urgent actions to address these challenges Need of funding of the Authority activities and carrying out key studies Acceleration the ratification of the convention to strengthen ABAKIR and its actions. Establishment of collaborative actions ; Support of the organization of sensitization workshop of local administrations and representatives of key actors in the basin; Facilitation of the implementation of the communication strategy by supporting awareness and sensitization campaigns and establish dialogue platforms; Harmonization of regulation of the different uses of the water resource.

15 8. Lessons learnt Critical role of ABAKIR recognized by partner countries and Development partners ; however financing do not follow Basin organizations sharing the same basin to establish memorandum of undertanding Membership of ANBO and RIOB to focus on sharing best practices and sharing scientific information ABAKIR being a key factor for establishment of dialogue platform between diverse stakeholders and ground actors Thank you for your attention