Enhancing community resilience in Lake Cyohoha Catchment, Bugesera Region (Burundi/Rwanda)

Prepared for presentation during the WACDEP Global Technical Coordination Workshop-Tuesday 24 June 2014

by Patrick SAFARI ,

Regional Coordinator, GWP Eastern Africa

Outline1. Background2. The process3. Learning points 4. Summary

 

WP1: Kagera Basin-LVBC/E

AC

Burundi and RwandaWP2: National PlansWP3: Investment strategies WP4: Investment projects

WP5: Bugesera region:

L. Cyohoha catchment-demo.

WP6&7: K and CB (community management, local adaptation, participatory processes)

WP8: Partnership Building /water governance (CWPs, Catchment, community)

1. Background: Water, Climate and Development Program (WACDEP)in EnA Region

2.1.The Process: Identifying challenges: Why interventions?

Water pollution

Encroaching lake shore/ wetlands

Poor agricultural practices, over grazing

Poor access to water supply

Water scarcity

Shortage of fuel wood

Deforestation/ soil erosion

Poverty

High Population growth

Poor community structures

Poor access to social services and infrastructure

Seasonal Drought, floods

Burundi

Rwanda

0 25 50 75 10012.5

Kilometers

µ

Legend

Country Boundary

Lake Cyohoha

CatchmentLegend

Cyohoha catchment

Countries 0 3 6 9 121.5

Kilometers

·

Burundi

Rwanda

508 km2

369 km2 in Bu

139 km2in Rw

lake is like a river of 27 km long and 0.5 to 2 km wide. It branches up to 9 km longThe lake Cyohoha is separated from the river Akanyaru by a broadband swamps.

2.2.The Process: Detail Situational Analysis-aDefining hydrological boundary as a unit of analysis, planning and management: L. Cyohoha catchment:

Hydrologist/Hydrogeologist, Environmentalist/ watershed management expert/ forester/ wetland ecologist, Agriculture expert, Socio-economist, Gender Expert, GIS Expert

Multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach

Bu-Rw Team for Situational Analysis in L. Cyohoha catchment

2.2.The Process: Detail Situational Analysis-bTechnical Analysis by Joint (Bu-Rw) Team of Experts

Hydro-climatic and environmental data – Climate –temperature, rainfall– Hydrology: surface water, groundwater?, water uses (abstraction for

drinking, irrigation), – Topography-slope classes– Land use/land cover– Soils

Socio-economic data– Population, human settlement, Gender – Social services-health, water supply, education, market, energy use– Infrastructre-road, telephone, electricity, communication, bank – Economic activities, Employment-agri– Institutions-farmers’ organizations

2.2.The Process: Detail Situational Analysis-bTechnical Analysis by Joint (Bu-Rw) Team of Experts

Participatory process during situational analysis• history of drought/flood hazards, changes in rainfall seasons, • local knowledge systems, local coping mechanisms, community

structures • Source of household energy, accessing it and challenges

2.2.The Process: Detail Situational Analysis-cAwareness raising, sensitization, participatory analysis

Frequent drought/flood hazards, changes in rainfall seasons,

A. Environmental degradation: Differences in enforcing policies/laws affecting shared systems, Weak community structures/capacities

2.2.The Process: Detail Situational Analysis-dAnalyzing problems/challenges and hot spots

• Drought and flood prone areas• conflicts over use of resources• water scarcity• Lack of fuel wood

• degraded catchments• Erosion, deforestation

degraded wetlands Pollution 

3. Poor access to safe drinking water

2.2.The Process: Detail Situational Analysis-dAnalyzing problems/challenges and hot spots

2. Traditional cookers and lack of fuelwood

2.3.The Process: prioritizing interventions/–based on the situational analysis, joint review and consultations with stakeholders

Lesson 1: Participatory process: understanding the community needs

The approach should be integrated, participatory and owned by communities: Integrated within a hydrological boundary Integrated to satisfy communities’ multiple needs-water as entry point Integrated to the local government development plans Participation and ownership by communities & other stakeholders ….sustainability

3. Learning Points

Lesson 2: establish/ strengthen partnership for implementation frameworks

Summary of priority interventions-1

Priority Interventions Mechanism for implementation

Water: Extending water supply systems to communities

Work with partners-Utility, local governmentPrivate suppliers/contactors

Energy: Introduce improved cooker stoves, biogas

Work with partners-CONCERNCommunity groups/associations (Women groups)Private suppliers/contractors

Food security: new agronomic practices

Work with partners-Local Govt. office Community groups/associations

Environment: Lake Cyohoha buffer zone protection, Upper catchment protection

Work with partners-RENGOF,Community Associations, Youth Group

Priority Interventions Mechanism for implementation

Strengthen/establish Community structures for managing/producing:• water points• improved cook stoves• seedlings, • Parts of the catchment: buffer zone, sub-catchment• L.Cyohoha catchment• Stakeholders’ platforms

Work with partners-Local Govt., NGOs, Community Groups/Associations, Private suppliers/contractors

Awareness raising, CB, training on:• Challenges: environmental degradation, climate

change, water scarcity, energy security• Water and other NR management: importance,

ownership and participation• Community structures• New approaches, methods, technologies,

management

Work with partners-Local Govt., NGOs, Community Groups/Associations, Private suppliers/contractors

Summary of priority interventions-2

Priority Interventions Mechanism for implementation

Strengthen information systems• Baseline and updated state of the

environment/NRs• Community M&E systems• Local early warning systems• Community exchange programs-

community-to-community learning

Work with partners-Local Govt., NGOs, Community Groups/Associations, Private suppliers/contractors

Developing L. Cyohoha catchment integrated management plan

Summary of priority interventions-3

KAMPEKATUNDA

BURENGE

BIHARAGU

NYAKAYAGA

Kiri

Rugasa

Kigoma

Gitwe

Kiyonza

Nyamabuye

Rubuga

Kigina

Nyakarama

Gaturanda

Nyabikenke

30°10'0"E

30°10'0"E

30°5'0"E

30°5'0"E

30°0'0"E

30°0'0"E

2°20'0"S 2°20'0"S

2°25'0"S 2°25'0"S

2°30'0"S 2°30'0"S

2°35'0"S 2°35'0"S

·

0 2.5 5 7.5 101.25

Kilometers

Legend

Lake CyohohaCyohoha CatchmentPrioritized Intervention Area (Burundi)Prioritized Intervention Area (Rwanda)Country Boundary

Rwanda

Burundi

Lake Cyohoha

Lake Cyohoha catchment-priority areas and interventions

• Watershed management

• Rainwater harvesting

• Buffer zone management

• Biogas• Improved cook-

stoves• Water supply

Biogas

Water supply

Buffer zone management

Interventions at community level should:

• Consider the local context, challenges and priorities (communities and ecosystems).

• Use both modern (hydro-climatic) information and local knowledge

• linked and contribute to socio-economic needs of communities

• Contribute to strengthening Community structures and building their capacities

Lesson 3: Participatory process: addressing the the community needs

Lesson 4: engaging local media for raising community

Training and informing media to inform the public

Lesson 5: Linking policy with practices

Differences in enforcement of national environmental laws resulted in differences in the level of degradation of the same system-L.Cyohoha Catchment

Lesson 6 : Political support and buy-in

Political support for WACDEP during WACDEP Coordination meeting in Kigali

Buy-in and appreciation of WACDEP by Nile TAC-COM Meeting in Kharthoum on 19-20 June 2014

Summary of major challengesN challenges Actions taken

1 Managing expectations:• Policy/practices• National/local level• High expectations by communities

and local government for quick investments on the ground

Using demonstrations to influence both policy & practices

2 Differences in national policies and their enforcements

Facilitate experience sharing to influence law enforcement

3 Unilateral thinking vs. trans boundary nature of the systems

More stakeholders' consultation, awareness raising

4 Engaging stakeholders in WACDEP activities (key sectors), including political buy-in

workshops, bilateral meetings and providing WACDEP awareness packages

designating focal points for WACDEP in respective key sectors

• Investing in WRM (at community level) is an important adaptation strategy

• WACDEP is supporting demonstration of interventions for water security and climate resilience at community level, and the on-going processes are providing some lessons

• There is a need to develop bigger investment projects based on demonstrations for scaling-up beyond the target communities

• Future programs may consider the lessons from on-going processes and experiences

3. Summary/Conclusion

WRM approach : recommended as a tool for building resilience to climate change in Lake Cyohoha Catchment

Stakeholders participation

Water Allocation

Pollution Control

Information Management

systems

Financial Mechanism Flood & Drought

Management systems

Basin Planning

Monitoring mechanism

INTEGRATED WATER and NATURAL

RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN LAKE CYOHOHA

CATCHMENT

THANK YOU!