Project

Support to the Cubango-Okavango River Basin Strategic Action Programme Implementation

Lead country

Botswana

Participating countries

Botswana, Namibia, Angola

Project status

Under implementation

Implementing period

From February 1, 2018 to July 1, 2022

SDGs addressed by this project

SDG targets

  1. 1.5 Build resilience of poor to climate, shocks
  2. 6.5 Implement integrated water resources management
  3. 13.1 Strengthen resilience, adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards

Project ID: 4755

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Technical team

  • Oceans and Water Programme

Technical area(s)

  • Protection of transboundary surface & groundwater resources in a changing climate

Landscape(s)

  • Human altered areas

Sub-landscape(s)

  • Rural areas

Transformed sector(s)

  • Agriculture

UNDP role(s)

  • Capacity development / Technical assistance
  • Convening / Partnerships / Knowledge Sharing
  • Data collection and analysis

Strategy

  • Governance
  • Management operation

Sub-strategy

  • Institutional framework
  • Partnerships
  • Transboundary governance
  • Sustainable land management

Social inclusion

  • Local community/CSOs
  • Smallholder farmers
  • Women

Gender equality

  • Women farmers
  • Gender-responsive policies

Gender result effectiveness scale

  • Gender responsive

Pathway(s)

  • People pathway

Risk reduction target(s)

  • Reduce exposure

SDG target(s)

  • 1.5 Build resilience of poor to climate, shocks
  • 6.5 Implement integrated water resources management
  • 13.1 Strengthen resilience, adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards

Conventions and protocols

  • Strategic Action Programme

Private sector(s)

N/A

Hot topic

  • Poverty reduction
  • Food and agricultural commodities strategy

About this project

Description

The Cubango-Okavango River Basin remains one of the least human impacted river basins on the African continent. It is situated in remote areas far from the basin countries' capital cities and main centers of economic activities. The basin supports predominantly rural communities, whose livelihoods are dependent on natural resources, subsistence rain-fed agriculture and flood-recession agriculture. As a result, the people of the basin are in general poorer, less healthy, and less well educated than national averages in their respective countries, underscoring the need for economic development in the basin. At the same time, in its present near-pristine status, the river provides significant ecosystem benefits and will continue to do so if managed appropriately. However, pressures are now building to develop the basin's resources to increase incomes and alleviate poverty in the basin population. In response to this, UNDP with finance from GEF supported the three countries (Angola, Botswana and Namibia) that share the resources of the Cubango-Okavango River basin to conduct the joint assessment of the basin, including the future water resources development analysis, which led to the production of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis; then supported them to agree on a set of transboundary priorities for the sustainable development and management of the basin. After some negotiations, the set of transboundary priorities were approved by the Cabinet in each country, and jointly endorsed by the Ministers by all three countries as the Strategic Action Programme. This project will support the implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the Cubango-Okavango River Basin. The objective of the project is to strengthen the joint management and cooperative decision making capacity of the Cubango-Okavango River basin states on the optimal utilization of natural resources in the basin, with the aim to support the socio-economic development of the basin communities while sustaining the health of the basin ecosystems. The project has three components. Component 1: Basin Development Management Framework strengthening. Component 2: Environmentally Conscious Livelihoods and Socio-Economic Development Demonstration Projects. Component 3: Integrated Water Resource Management.

Objectives

Strengthening the joint management and cooperative decision making capacity of the Cubango-Okavango River basin states on the optimal utilization of natural resources in the basin, with the aim to support the socio-economic development of the basin communities while sustaining the health of the basin ecosystems.

USD $6,300,000

Grant amount

USD $336,638,032

Leveraged amount (co-financing)

1

Source(s) of fund

Sources of fund

 

  • Global Environment Facility – Trust Fund ($6,300,000)

Implementing partner(s)

  • Government of Botswana

Project metrics

Outcome 1:

A shared long-term basin development vision and concept of a development space

Indicators:

# of hectares under better management
# of people actively engaged in the low-impact, environmentally sustainable development activities in the basin
(gender disaggregated data will be collected on participation in environmentally sustainable activities and on the improvement of socioeconomic status)A long-term basin vision agreed, underpinned by environmental quality objectives adopted by the countries. [LFA2 Output 5.1; B0.1.1]
Gender mainstreaming and women empowerment visibly advanced in the basin.
Increased financial investments by countries and other partners towards the basin resources management and SAP implementation
OKACOM governance documents and institutional structure strengthened for stronger regional cooperation and joint management
Strengthened technical capacity of the OKACOM for joint management and cooperative decision making and policy discussions
[A3.1; A3.3; A3.4; A3.5 ](空白)
Customized Decision Support Systems relevant to OKACOM developed and used. [LFA1 Output 2.3; A2.3]
Design and agreement of an Information Management Systems to accommodate both live and static data. [LFA1 Output 2.2; A2.2: A systems development capacity established, and relevant applications/software customized for OKACOM specific needs]
Initial boundaries set for development space. [LFA2 Output 5.1]
Transboundary PES principles fully incorporated in OKACOM's sustainable financial mechanisms, including the OKACOM Endowment Fund. [LFA1 Output 4.2]
(空白)
Communication and Information Strategy Implemented
Revision of the OKACOM agreement to align its mandates and legal status to effectively monitor and coordinate SAP implementation. [LFA1 Output 4.1]
SAP and NAP operationalised &
M&E framework to monitor SAP/NAP implementation progress designed and applied [LFA1 Output 4.1]Strengthened OKASEC with adequate Financial, Administrative, and Procurement capacity to manage donor-funded projects.
Strengthened OKASEC with technical capability to manage and operate the DSS and IMS. [LFA1 Outputs 2.2 & 2.3]Transboundary EIA Guidelines and procedures developed and adopted by OKACOM [LFA2 Output 5.1]
Community-based climate change adaptation measures demonstrated to improve food security and resilience through application of alternative/conservation agricultural practices [LFA 5.2; B1.3]
Community-based Tourism activities demonstrated and documented [LFA 5.2; B1.1.1]
M&E frameworks designed to monitor the demonstration progress and effectiveness [LTA1 Output 4.1]
Replication Strategies to promote further environmentally sound socioeconomic development activities in the basin [LFA 5.2]
Sustainable community-based fisheries demonstrated and documented [LFA 5.2; B1.5]
Assessment of GW resources and report on potential utilisation [LFA Output 5.3; B2.3]
Assessment of hydro metrological monitoring programmes and recommendations for strengthening. Improvements funded in Angola in specific sites. [LFA Output 5.3; B2.1; B2.2]
Basin wide biological monitoring and socio-economic monitoring programmes LFA Output 5.3]
Common demand forecasting and yield assessment methodologies [LFA2 Output 5.3]
IWRM basin plan developed, incorporating a Water Resources plan. [LFA 5.3]
Sedimentation Monitoring Programme [LFA Output 5.3]
Water quality baseline survey undertaken and monitoring programme and improvement and investment strategy determined [LFA Output 5.3; B2.6]
Outcome 2:

Strengthened management framework including enhanced OKACOM mandates
Outcome 3:

Environmentally-sound socioeconomic development demonstrated in the basin to allow the basin population to improve their socioeconomic status with minimum adverse impacts to and enhanced protection of the basin ecosystem.
Outcome 4:

Basin's capacity to manage transboundary water resources based on the IWRM principles enhanced, supporting the Basin development and Management Framework
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FEATURED STORY

Support to the Cubango-Okavango River Basin Strategic Action Programme Implementation

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