Source Book On Africa’s River Basin Organisation Volume One January 2007 Contents 1 Introduction ................................... Page 6 2 Preface ...................................................5 3. Map of River and Lake Basins ................9 4. Table of Summary of Major Basins .......10 5. Table of Summary of Minor Basins ....... 11 6. Congo river basin ..................................13 7. Gambia river basin ................................16 8. Incomaputo River basin ........................18 9. Juba-Shabelli River basin .....................22 10. Komati River basin ................................24 11. Kunene River basin .................................2 12. Lake Chad River basin ..........................32 13. Lake Victoria River Basin ......................36 14. Limpopo River basin .............................40 15. Niger River basin ..................................44 16. Nile river basin ......................................49 17. Okavango River basin ...........................55 18. Orange River basin ...............................59 19. Ruvuma River basin ..............................63 20. Senegal river basin ...............................65 21. Volta River basin ...................................70 22. Zambezi river basin ..............................78 23. Map of Trans-Boundary Aquifers ..........78 24. Table of Trans-boundary Aquifers .........79 African River Basins Preface Preface The Sourcebook on Africa’s River Basin RBOs. In turn this is expected to enhance ef- Organizations (RBO) volume 1 draft has fectiveness and performance of the organiza- been produced by Warner Consultants Ltd of tions ultimately resulting in the realization of Kampala Uganda as a desk study on behalf equitable and sustainable utilization of basin of African Network of Basin Organizations resources. The sourcebook should be contin- (ANBO), African Ministers Council on Wa- uously updated if it is to achieve those noble ter (AMCOW) and GTZ. It provides a com- goals. All water sector planners, managers prehensive compendium of information on and users in the various organizations are re- Africa’s River Basin Organizations which are quested to study the sourcebook and submit international bodies that run the river organi- corrections and/or additions to the authors zations. The information is given in fact sheet through GTZ. specifically designed and structured to cap- Finally the sourcebook should provide a ture information ranging from administrative compendium of data on Africa’s hydrologeo- aspects of the organizations to development logical basins to facilitate better knowledge of member states and stakeholders. Some and improved governance of the basins lead- scanty information on Africa’s Trans-Bound- ing to Integrated Water Resources Manage- ary aquifers is also available. ment on the continent for the benefit of all. The Sourcebook is intended to facilitate sharing of experience, learning from each other and information exchange among African River Basins 1.0 Introduction In section two a model data/fact sheet The Source book on Africa’s River Basin recording all the different types of information Organizations provides information on the about a typical African river basin organization status of cooperation on African rivers and is developed. The fact sheet is specially lakes and information on the management formatted to capture most information on of transboundary surface and groundwater African transboundary water organizations. All resources. The introduction consists of two established river basin organizations and less parts, section one and section two. sophisticated cooperative structures that are instrumental to the development of Section one is more analytical in nature and transboundary water regimes are covered. comprise of thematic comments on recent Each fact sheet includes the same information developments on the continent, common categories to structure the information challenges, and issues to be solved by uniformly and give the reader insights into the Trans-Boundary (and national) institutions. status of cooperation, the organizational It examines selected topics such as the structure, and the mandates and functions. structures and modes of organization of these The present categories are not exclusive and institutions and any other relevant theme. could be extended or reduced if appropriate and wished. References and links will be listed Where relevant data could be sourced in the annexes to provide more detailed financing arrangements of the river / lake information and access to instructive basin organizations, information and data documents. sharing, notification and procedures of dispute settlement, and challenges related with the The Sourcebook is still to be completed and participation of stakeholder are outlined. will be updated and revised at regular intervals Benefit sharing and its actual relevance for thereafter. New organizations and those cooperation on tran-sboundary surface and without any or much information currently will groundwater resources, the relation between be added, and new issues which RBO River Basin Organizations (RBO) and representatives feel should be included in the development aid are also captured. sourcebook will be incorporated in the final version of the document. The final version Material contained in the Sourcebook were may be published as a hard copy or distributed obtained from diverse sources including electronically (CD-ROM or website). regional and international organizations such as the African Union (AU), Africa’s Ministers To ensure that the Sourcebook becomes a Council on Water (AMCOW), river and lake real and vital source of information, its editors basin organizations, the Southern African will develop and ensure close contact with Development Community (SADC), the East those running existing and newly emerging African Community (EAC) as well as the EU river and lake basin organizations, regional Water Initiative, New Partnership for Africa’s organizations, and the donor community, Development (NEPAD), the UN Economic which is crucial for providing reliable and Commission on Africa, and other UN updated information. organizations (e.g. UNEP, UNDP, the World Bank). The internet was an important source of information especially for river basins whose websites could be identified at the start of the exercise. Introduction 2.0 Section One tation” and “regulatory”, which bear conse- quences relevant for example, for financ- 2.1 Fact Sheets of River/Lake Basin ing. The inclusion of additional information Organizations in Africa on personnel etc. has greatly enriched The information about surface water resourc- the sourcebook. The title “organizational es that has been collected in individual Fact structure for cooperation” encompasses Sheets are presented in the Sourcebook ac- both technical committees and established cording to the challenges outlined in section more sophisticated basin organizations. one. This information is meant to provide an overview of the river / lake basin organiza- 2.1. Website tions with respect to their organizational set- The existence of a website indicates whether up, mandates, functions, jurisdiction, the rela- or not an organization provides access to in- tion between river basin organizations and formation for outsiders. And where they exist the contracting parties, their financial regula- they have been an invaluable source of infor- tions, the status of regional cooperation, etc. mation about the basin. Sources of information include treaties and agreements, the river basin organizations’ websites, academic research, internet and 2.1. Legal Basis the press. As a rule, the sources do not pro- Those treaties or agreements are listed, vide insight into the organizations’ mode of which define the organizational set-up, man- operation, their performance according to date, and functions. If available, access is their legal mandates and functions, and the provided to statutes and financial regulations. resources available. During the course of improving the Source- 2.1. Parties To The Agreement(s) book, it was desirable, to extend or fine tune This category lists the contracting parties, the categories from those in the earlier draft. those who are not represented, and their lo- So far, information in the Fact Sheets is orga- cation on a given watercourse and lake. nized in the following categories: 2.1. Geographical scope 2.1.1 General Information The jurisdiction of cooperative structures This contains the name of the organization, may be “river / lake basins”, “sub-basins”, its abbreviation, administrative address in- “watercourse systems” etc., which is impor- cluding telephone, e-mail, head of organiza- tant for developing joint management plans. tion, contact person where available and year the organization was launched. 2.1. Function/Mandate Objectives and functions are mentioned 2.1.2 Organizational Structure in this category. We differentiate between for Cooperation mono-functional (hydro-power) and multi- Overview of the cooperative structure and functional organizations, whether they are organs of river / lake basin organizations, advisory or regulatory in nature, whether representation of nation states, the rules they bear responsibility for strategic or proj- which govern their internal relations and their ect planning, whether they are only imple- interaction with nation states or national ad- menting and/or operative bodies, and wheth- ministrations and their mandate and authority. er