1) The Pungwe River Basin IWRM project2) Reflections on typical issues, constraints and needs

IWRM in practice on a basin level

Contents

Joakim Harlin, UNDP New York

Co-operative effort by the

Governments of Zimbabwe

and Mozambique.

Implementing agencies:

ZINWA-Save (Zimbabwe)

ARA-Centro (Mozambique)

Supported by a team of local

and international consultants

lead by SWECO International.

February 2002 – February 2006

Financed by the Swedish

International Development

Co-operation Agency

Development of the Pungwe River Basin Joint IWRM Strategy

Project Objectives

The project aims to create a framework for the sustainable and equitable management, development and conservation of the water resources of the Pungwe River Basin, with the objective of increasing the derived social and economic benefits for the people living in the basin.

In short: To develop a joint IWRM strategy and build capacity for its implementation and upgrading

31 151 km2 catchment area of which 95 % in Mozambique and 5% in Zimbabwe

Mean natural annual runoff of about 133 m3/s of which 25-30 % from Zimbabwe.

Minimum flow ~ 4 m3/s, maximum >3000 m3/s

Population: 2003 - 1,2 million 2023 – 2,0 million

Urban centres: Beira - 400’, Gondola – 190’, Nhamatanda –140’

Widespread poverty – 75% of rural households below income for basic needs

Diarrhoea and cholera common due to unsafe drinking water

About 20% of the population HIV positive

Agriculture: Tea, coffee, sugarcane, maize

Tourism: Nyanga and Gorongosa national parks

Rich biodiversity, wildlife, fish and shrimps

The Pungwe River … a few facts

Project phases

• Inception Phase• Monograph Phase• Development Scenario Phase• Joint IWRM Strategy Phase

The Monograph Phase

• Improving the knowledgebase for the development of the water resources through 13 sector studies

• Building of database, GIS and data exchange platform

• Field surveys and data collection

• Training and transfer of technology (hydrological models and GIS)

• Institutional support and capacity building

• Stakeholder communication and participation (basin committee)

SECTOR STUDIES

Surface water

Gauging networks

Groundwater

Dams and other

hydraulic works

Water quality and

sediment

Pollution

Water supply and

sanitation

Irrigation and forestry

Fisheries

Conservation areas,

wildlife and tourism

Environmental flow

requirements

Infrastructure

Socio-economy

Development Scenarios … investment planning

2005, 2015, 2025: Constrained or un-constrained demand?

Demand or supply driven? Who's demand?

Dams - small, medium and large for hydropower, agriculture, flood and drought mitigation, control of saltwater intrusion, fishing, recreation & tourism.

WRYM modelling to asses effects - available yield from the various alternatives.

Development Scenarios … benefits?

Socio-economic and environmental screening. Technical, financial and economic analysis. Ranking.

Stakeholder consultations –client / basin committees

Joint development of supporting infrastructure e.g. transport, marketing and trading mechanisms

bb1. Benefits to the River

2. Benefits from the river

3. Reduced costs and tension

4. Benefits beyond the river

(C. Sadoff & D. Gray, Water Policy 2002)

Economic Development

Social Equity

Environmental sustainability

IWRM strategy? The process of establishing:

• An improved knowledgebase

• An agreed set of sustainable investmentprojects – implementation plan for theprioritised investments

• Active stakeholder participation (basincommittees)

• Institutional capacity to manage, implementand upgrade

• Management instruments - gaugingnetworks, water allocation procedures,information systems, models, water demandmanagement and economic instruments

• An enabling environment for joint IWRM -national and international co-operation(cross-sectoral), information sharing, watersharing agreement

2) Typical issues, constraints and needs

Pungwe and others..

Water resources vary in time and space ...

B13 Eskdale, Matabeleland, Zimbabwe

Flow gauging stations ...

River flow data

Precipitation data

Environmental problems, pollution ... little data

Biodiversity … knowledge – even less data!

”Technical needs” to enable water management

Functioning gauging networks

Technology adapted to scarce data access and to the ability to use and develop this technology–technical, staffing and funding resources.

Lack of hydraulic infrastructure – dams, canals pumps etc.

- Inability to monitor and enforce (quantity and quality)

- Inability to forecast, warn and regulate flows

Institutional and Governance constraints, e.g…

Inadequate management and want of common goals

Unclear definition of functions and responsibilities

Lack of and/or change of qualified staff

Understanding of IWRM – capacity building

Insufficient and/or unclear funding

Revenue collection – willingness and ability to pay for raw water?

Hidden agendas, corruption

Political and macro-economic factors

Poor coordination on all levels!

Transparency with plans and information?

Water allocation and permit procedures?

Willingness and ability to share data?

Differences in legislation

Connection with decision makers?

Stakeholder participation, some reflections..

• What are the incentives for stakeholders to be involved in IWRM – local, basin, national and international?

• Legal rights – empowerment of weak stakeholder groups? Are the Authorities willing?

• How involve stakeholders in investment planning, collection of water tariffs and levies and monitoring and enforcement of water permits? Water a free commodity?

• Establishing stakeholder participation e.g. basin committee / water user associations - takes time and is very input demanding!