African Water Development Report 2006 - United Nations Economic ...

Public Participation;(d) Information Collection, Analysis, Managementand Dissemination and improvementof national and transboundary river basinmanagement, planning and coordination;(e) Infrastructure Investment; and(f ) Stand Alone (Special Priority) AreasThe projects are largely envisaged for soft infrastructure,meant to create an enabling environmentin the subregion for further developmentof solid infrastructure projects. The total estimatedcost of the Programme is US$ 138,276,000, of which 21 per cent (about US$ 28, 372,855) has been secured, living a balance of US$109,903,145 which is being needed.West Africa SubregionThe approach pursued by the West Africa Subregionwas directed at creating an Action Plan forIntegrated Water Resources Management, codenamedWARAP-IWRM. The projects under theaction plan were selected through national andsubregional conferences on IWRM. Some of thepriority areas identified were:(a) Implementation of an IWRM process aspart of the National Water Plan of eachcountry of the subregion;(b) Setting up of a framework for regional cooperationon IWRM, aimed at harmonizingpolicies and legislation on water issuesand for exchange of experience;(c) Re-activation of the framework for consultationbetween riparian countries for jointmanagement of shared basins; and(d) Drawing up of national and subregionalstrategies for mobilizing financial resourcesrequired for integrated water resourcesmanagement.The finalization of the project selection was informedby the conclusions of the first and secondNational Focal Points workshops and after a regionalsynthesis had been done; the following arethe thematic programme areas:(a) To support national IWRM plans;(b) To provide specific support to countriesemerging from civil wars in the reconstructionof their water sector;(c) To build the capacity of their people andinstitutions;(d) To undertake regional coordination ofIWRM and WARAP;(e) To establish or reactivate a common frameworkfor riparian countries to jointly manageshared water basins; and(f ) To finance the water sector.The total cost of the identified projects amountsto about US$ 24 million and the projects are expectedto last one to three years.East Africa SubregionThe process of identifying portfolio projects inthe East Africa subregion was carried out underthe auspices and direction of the AMCOW- EATechnical Committee, while the responsibility fornational reports fell on the National Focal Personsappointed in individual countries.As part of the process:Each country prepared:(a) A national report on the implementation ofchap. 18 (Agenda 21 and other WSSD andMDG water targets);(b) A portfolio of water-related projects/programmesfor inclusion in the East Africasubregion’s portfolio of projects/programmes.The AMCOW-EA Secretariat was mandatedto synthesize the above National Reports intoAMCOW-EA Subregional Reports and Portfolioof Projects to be prepared and presented toAMCOW bearing in mind the following recommendations:1. There should be a good mix of projects addressingall key areas i.e. Water Supply andIMPLEMENTATION OF TARGETS UNDER THE Africa Water Vision AND THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS361