The German Government and European Union funded Lake Victoria Basin Integrated Water Resources Management Programme celebrates World Habitat Day
Monday, 4 October 2021 – World Habitat Day – Kisumu, Kenya; as the global community celebrates World Habitat Day, the Lake Victoria Basin Commission Integrated Water Resources Management Programme (LVB IWRMP) contemplates what the day means to people living on the Lake Victoria Basin.
The theme for this year’s World Habitat Day is ‘Accelerating Urban Action for a Carbon-Free World’. According to the United Nations, cities are responsible for 70 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions with transport, buildings, energy, and waste management accounting for the bulk of urban greenhouse gas emissions. The future of our planet depends on national, regional and local governments and organizations, communities, academic institutions, the private sector and all relevant stakeholders working together to create sustainable, carbon-neutral, inclusive cities and towns. World Habitat Day will amplify the global Race to Zero Campaign and UN-Habitat’s ClimateAction4Cities and encourage local governments to develop actionable zero-carbon plans in the run up to the international climate change summit COP26 in November.
“People living in big cities on the shores of Lake Victoria have a responsibility to reduce pollution entering the Lake with the aim to keep the basin sustainably habitable and profitable to its inhabitants. This is a trans-boundary issue and applies to cities directly on the shore of the Lake including Kisumu, Mwanza, Kampala, as well as major cities in the upstream part of the Lake basin including cities of Kigali and Gitega. This rather demanding objective can only be achieved through concerted efforts by the Partner States and their Development Partners in enforcing common effluent standards, putting in place proper mechanisms of management of solid and liquid wastes, adoption of sustainable land management practices, and development of appropriate infrastructure for sewage management in the areas surrounding the lake. Importantly as well is Partnerships of different parties at all levels: national, regional, and international,” said Arsène A.H. MUKUBWA, Programme Coordinator.
“The LVB IWRM programme is working towards achieving the LVBC Strategic Development Objectives which include promoting integrated water resources management and development in the Lake Victoria Basin. This is also in line with the Protocol for Sustainable Development of Lake Victoria Basin,”saidIsaac Nyarwaya, Ag. Executive Secretary, EAC LVBC.
Investments that are being co-funded by the German Government through KfW and the European Union include a faecal sludge treatment plant in Kigali/Rwanda, in Kisumu/Kenya, 15 km of sewers, 1100 shared ablution blocks, 4 public school ablution blocks installed. The rehabilitation of an existing sewer network and a pumping station in Mwanza/Tanzania and the rehabilitation of wastewater ponds and sewerage network in Kampala/Uganda.
About the programme
The Programme aims to improve water quality and availability through strategic and sustainable management of the Lake Victoria Basin. Lake Victoria is the second largest fresh-water body in the world. It is considered one of the most important shared natural resources by the Partner States of the East African Community, which have declared the basin as a regional economic growth zone. Transboundary issues are sometimes sensitive and make the water management of Lake Victoria Basin challenging. Over fishing, species introduction, loss of habitats and biodiversity, siltation from erosion of watersheds, industrial pollution, polluting through municipal wastewater, lack of water storage from agricultural areas and solid waste are amongst the most pressing issues.
Environmental problems are exacerbated by the growing population pressure in the basin, which has increased competition over the use of shared transboundary natural resources.
The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), an institution of the East African Community, is therefore intensifying its efforts on integrated water resources management to address the urgent need for regional coordination among the Partner States.
For more details please contact:
Brenda Wamoto
LVB IWRM Programme Assistant
Email: b.wamoto@lvb-ipc.com
Tel: +254 720 777 326
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