Bagamoyo - Tanzania
DAAD International Seminar
Topics of Integrated Water Resource Management
Bagamoyo / Tanzania
04.11. to
11.11.2007
Evaluation Paper
DAAD Expert Seminar
“Topics on Integrated Water Resources Management”,
held at Bagamoyo, November 2007
The seminar programme was divided into five main
topics, giving the frame for a lot of
interesting contributions focussing on Integrated
Water Resources Management (IWRM).
Concepts, Policies and Programmes
The countries in the East-African region have
developed various approaches to implement
IWRM. The comparison of the approaches gave an
overview of advantages and disadvantages. Seeing the
bottlenecks in implementation in neighbouring
countries helped the participants to understand
their own situation. To overcome obstacles,
participants invited their colleagues from
neighbouring countries for more co-operation.
Problematic areas of policy implementation were
revealed as similar, and some countries are already
a step ahead in solving the problems. Guiding
examples to improve implementation are seen within
the region. The acceptance to follow policy
guidelines of a neighbouring country is higher than
taking examples from Europe or elsewhere.
Water Use and Water Demand Management
The development of the European Water Framework
Directive (WFD) was explained. Implementation of the
WFD was highlighted using a case study of the River
Sieg in Germany. The European water Initiative (EUWI)
and the European Water Facility EUWF were presented
as opportunities to assist the African water sector.
Working groups developed the existing obstacles
resulting from traditional or habitual way of using
water. The discussion concluded in one central
question: What is the contribution of every
individual person to improve implementation of IWRM?
This question was asked again and again after each
session.
Excursion day
The UDSM prepared and conducted an excursion to the
water treatment plant at the Ruvu River intake,
serving Dar-es-Salaam with drinking water. Again
models were discussed to transfer technical
solutions amongst neighbouring countries. The
Department of water resource Engineering at the
University of Dar-es-Salaam was visited as well.
Water Governance
An
example from Zambia explained the realisation of the
national Water Policy on catchment level,
considering the assistance of the Zambian Water
Partnership. Critical remarks on the translation of
concepts into practice led the discussion to the
responsibility of research institutions and
universities to open their findings to a broader
public, even against the existing political
mainstream. The role of media in this case has to be
taken very carefully. A Tanzanian NGO reported on
their experiences in implementation of IWRM projects.
The Tanzanian government relies on the co-operation
with NGO´s, but efficiency of co-operation needs
still to be improved. Financial and economical
aspects of IWRM were highlighted. Financial
instruments in IWRM should be always related to the
practical use and embedded into the national guiding
principles.
New results of international research projects
around Lake Victoria were presented focussing
on
lake level changes and classification of eroded
lands around the lake.
The group demanded
a stronger international research
co-operation.
Recommendations
It
was recommended that universities should take up
their role as a knowledge base for the society and
disseminate information to politicians,
administration and the broader public. University
community should work in partnership with the water
user associations. The seminar recommended that
Universities should design short courses for the
concerned user groups as well as other stakeholders
in the process. The need for such kind of capacity
building is already expressed by the user
associations.
A
professional parent organisation should take up
quality monitoring of water related works. There is
need to establish an umbrella body covering
organisations on national basis up to organisations
on catchment level. It should co-ordinate all
activities related to watershed management.
Mechanisms on setting out this organisation need to
be worked out. Entry point could be the Engineering
Board. The Engineering Board is a strong institution
with an own act of parliament, main task is quality
and quantity monitoring of engineering work.
Another recommendation is that Universities should
incorporate IWRM issues into the teachers training
programme. Primary and secondary schools are key
institutions to encourage youth to participate in
development issues. The seminar recommended that
good utilisation of resources and
self-responsibility should be integrated in the
education system of schools. The curriculum needs to
be changed towards practical oriented education.
Media take a increasing part in forming of a public
opinion, so there is a need that media report more
on IWRM issues. Stakeholders in IWRM should take up
the challenge to engage media to report more on
Integrated Water Resources Management. The media
should be invited regularly to universities to
report on significant IWRM activities. IWRM research
findings need not only to be published in scientific
journals, but also in books, newspapers or magazines
that can be read by the wider public.
