Overview & general recommandations

Mapping, Assessment & Management of Transboundary Water Resources in the  IGAD Sub-Region Project: Overview & general recommandations

Following an international competitive bidding process by Sahara and Sahel Observatory (SSO), SEREFACO Consultants Limited was contracted to undertake this assignment on “Mapping, Assessment and Management of Transboundary Water Resources in the IGAD Sub-region Project Covering Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda”. The main objective of this consultancy service was to assess and analyze the water resources, socio-economic and environmental condition of the sub region and come-up with a set of strategy, recommendations,
and action plans to enable member states to implement and operate an integrated trans-boundary water resources management process. The project focused on acquiring data, information and knowledge to support more sustainable shared water resources management policies and strategies at national and subregional levels.

This report aims at presenting the major findings of the assignment and the proposed strategic recommendations and action plans thereof for moving forward with the implementation and operation of IWRM processes in the IGAD Sub-region.

In particular, the report includes:

• A formulation of strategies for enhancing regional cooperation;
• A framework and guidelines for regional procedures and coordination mechanisms for information production, dissemination and sharing;
• An assessment of water resources in the IGAD Sub-region;
• A socioeconomic assessment of water demand and use in the IGAD Sub-region;
• An assessment of the key environmental issues affecting the IGAD countries;
• Development of a regional database and GIS;
• An elaboration of medium and long term capacity building strategies for planning and managing trans-boundary programmes;
• The development of a road map for establishing a Transboundary River Basin Organization.

This project was financed by African Water Facility grant made available to IGAD for undertaking the study of the trans-boundary water resources of the sub-region excluding the Nile basin which is currently covered by the program of Nile Basin Initiative. OSS was the Client on behalf of IGAD in this assignment.