Taking cognisance of ongoing initiatives and existing opportunities;
 | IWRM Action Hub |
Case study
| IWRM Action Hub |
Case study
Zambia has over the years faced a number of challenges with regard to managing their water resources and these have resulted in inadequate supplies to meet various needs, pollution, inadequate information for decision making, inefficient use of the resource, inadequate financing and limited stakeholder awareness and participation. There is now a clear understanding that these challenges can be solved through applying the principles of integrated water resources management.
In May 2003, the Canadian Government committed to support the Partnership Programme for Sustainable African Water Development with the Global Water Partnership. With support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Global Water Partnership (GWP) started implementing the Partnership for African Water Development (PAWD Project) in five African Countries of Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Senegal, and Zambia. The goal of the PAWD project is “to support the sustainable management of the countries water resources as a contribution to eliminating poverty and improving wellbeing and protecting natural resources”.
The PAWD project comprises three components:
Support to the WSSD Target for National Integrated Water Resources Management Plans;
Support to institutional development of existing, new and emerging partnerships;
Support to integration of water into poverty reduction activities.
A major component of the project is to facilitate countries prepare the IWRM/WE Plans. GWP was well positioned to undertake this task as it had a network of multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable water resources management at regional, national, and local levels. These partnerships are neutral platforms, comprising government departments, NGOs, community groups, private sector, and academic institutions, which work jointly to identify solutions to problems and agree on a common approach to the management and use of water resources. GWP regional offices such as GWP-SA specifically provided guidance, technical support, and capacity building during the process.
In 2004, the Zambian Government through the Ministry of Energy and Water Development, with facilitation of the Zambia Water Partnership, began implementing the PAWD project by developing an Integrated Water Resources and Water Efficiency Plan for sustainable management of the country’s water resources. Support was provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through the Global Water Partnership (GWP). The GWP-Southern Africa provided programmatic and technical support to the project team, which was hosted by the Zambia Water Partnership, and also developed a capacity building programme to assist in the planning process.
A major component of the PAWD project was to facilitate the country in preparation of IWRM/WE plan. A structure and work plans involved following steps and stages:
It has been a challenge to undertake the process following the IWRM cycle stages. Some of the critical moments were:
It is in this respect that Zambia now has a draft IWRM/WE Implementation Plan.
The process generated the following outcomes:
• National Frameworks for sustainable WRM and service provision in place and well advanced in Zambia – Input to the Fifth National Development Plan;
• Ownership of national frameworks and process developed by all stakeholders – Integration with ongoing water sector;
• Stronger collaboration with potential institutions to support projects – improved sector coordination around the FNDP has created opportunities for potential financing support for the IWRM implementation plan;
• Strengthened regional and country partnerships for effective multi-stakeholder platforms – the ZWP has strengthened its governance with a new constitution;
• Water issues integrated into NDPs in Zambia. The water sector has been identified as a key sector contributing to national development while ten IWRM related programmes have been included in the FNDP.
Taking cognisance of ongoing initiatives and existing opportunities;
Ensuring participation by key actors with a lead of the Ministry responsible for national planning in the process;
Anchoring the Plan onto National Development Framework Plan;
Sustaining coverage by the media and public awareness;
Building capacities of partners and participating organizations.
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