An Integrated Water Resources Management initiative under the Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+) Programme, a Southern African Development Community (SADC) initiative that is focused on building climate resilience for most vulnerable countries has kicked-off in Tanzania.
The Global Water Partnership Tanzania (GWPTZ) which is implementing the programme in Tanzania on behalf of SADC started off with a meeting with the Wami/Ruvu Basin Water Board, to introduce the project to the basin officials and enhance understanding of the project.
According to GWPTZ Executive Director, Dr Victor Kongo the meeting was to discuss with the Wami/Ruvu officials the general objectives of the project in the basin and the proposed activities and budget of the project.
In Tanzania, the project aims to implement Integrated Water Resources Management IWRM climate resilience interventions that local communities in the Wami-Ruvu Basin would use to adapt to climate changes.
“In the SADC region, the programme aims to build capabilities of SADC Member States to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change in support of the achievement of strategic frameworks including Africa Agenda 2063 and UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs.)
“Tanzania is one of the SADC member states which is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The increase in temperatures and decrease in rainfall amount, as well as seasonal shifts in rainfall patterns have been experienced in most parts of the country. These changes affect water security and the National Determined Contributions (NDC) show that Water, Energy and Agriculture sectors are priority areas for climate investments,” explained Dr. Kongo.
Wami/Ruvu basin officials including the Water Director Engineer Elibarik Mmassy and Manager of Water Resources Management Department Mr. Martin Kasambala agreed to support the project.
According to Eng. Mmassy, the Board is interested in the assessment of climate change impacts on the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) which could be used for further advocacy around addressing those impacts on the river basin at regional and global levels.
The GCCA+ programme is being funded by the European Union which is being implemented in a number of SADC member states including Tanzania, Malawi and Botswana.