Title

Transboundary: Transboundary Organisation in the Niger River Basin

Transboundary: Reversal of land and water degradation in Lake Chad

Pakistan: IWRM Practices to Alleviate Poverty – A Model of Desert Development in Tharparkar
Country
Benin Burkina Faso Cameroon Guinea Mali Niger (the)
Algeria Cameroon Central African Republic (the) Chad Libya Niger (the) Nigeria Sudan (the)
Pakistan
Summary

The Niger River basin is of importance to the region. The Niger Basin Authority was established to foster, promote and co-ordinate studies and programs relating to the Niger River basin. Today the authority is required to promote co-operation among the member countries and to ensure integrated development of its resources. This case illustrates and provides key insights into transboundary river basin management.

Lake Chad is an important resource, both in terms of economic development and biodiversity. However, unsustainable management of natural resources, population increase and desertification pose severe challenges. Action has been taken by the WWF and its partners to promote sustainable management. This case illustrates that independent organisations, such as WWF, can play a unique role as a catalyst and facilitator for change.

Floods are a recurrent natural calamity in Pakistan, followed by earthquakes, cyclones and drought. However, drought is more damaging than floods in terms of food insecurity. Evidence of chronic water shortages have been painfully evident in some parts of Pakistan in recent years, due to low rainfall and extreme variations in temperature.
Related IWRM Tools
Keywords
Transboundary
Transboundary
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
Lessons Learned

The Convention providing the enabling environment for the establishment of an international river basin organisation should address the development objectives of the Member States and make provision for cooperation in the protection of water resources, the environment, and conflict resolution.

Provisions must also cover the status of projects (common ones) and how the financing is to be shared an equitable basis among the Member States. Financial matters need to be governed by clear regulations to eliminate or reduce mismanagement.

The various organs of river basin authority should not cease to perform their roles and functions. The Summit Heads of State and Council of Ministers should be convened regularly to direct and make sure that policies and decisions are implemented.

Projects that benefit two or three Member States should be encouraged, especially those that benefit all of them at the same time. This is particularly necessary in a large river basin like the Niger with nine riparian countries.

Institutional infrastructure must recognise management of water resources at different levels (basin, sub-basin, national, local). The framework should cover all levels. Provision needs to be made to harmonise the rules and regulations for management at the various levels.

Independent organizations, such as WWF, can play a unique role as a catalyst, facilitator, technical adviser and ‘honest broker'.

Relatively small financial investments can generate significant conservation results.

Transboundary protected area designations can help to ‘unlock’ international financial cooperation.

Intergovernmental treaties, such as the Ramsar Convention, and river basin organizations, such as the LCBC, can provide the basic institutional framework required for effective transboundary cooperation. However, the mere existence of agreements and institutions is not sufficient for securing success.

In order to ensure water security in drought-affected areas, widespread support by governmental/local agencies should be provided to communities.

Large scale and widespread capacity building in livestock, forestry, fodder, women rights, and health is needed on a fast-track basis for self-reliance and sustainable development. Focusing on home garden and village plant nurseries can augment food security and health of community.

Training sessions will help reduce exploitation and ensure that dwellers receive fair prices for their products in the market. Introducing small-scale, portable solar units to convert brackish water to sweet water can provide an alternative source of potable water preventing diseases.

Local donkeys could be revived as they are a source of power and can thrive very well on scant vegetation. Hence a small equine research centre could be created to further research on improvement of this species.

The government should commission water interventions like RWH systems, emergency ponds, and small dams to provide safe drinking water. It could further facilitate a focused response from NGOs working in THAR and conduct M&E, so activities can be scaled up.
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