Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

5.1.1 ESTABLISHMENT OF VIABLE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTIONS FOR
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE OKAVANGO DELTA
ECOSYSTEM
The strategies for the establishment of management institutions should focus on
strengthening management structures in order to ensure sustainability of the
ODMP process during its implementation. The sustainability issue continues to be
a concern which has been raised during all the deliberations and ODMP platforms.
This requires strong implementation of management structures with clear
mandates, adequate manpower and financial resources.
5.1.1.1 Coordination and monitoring of the implementation of the plan
The implementation of the ODMP will be coordinated and monitored by the
Department of Environmental Affairs. The DEA efforts need to be strengthened
through the proposed structures in the Draft Strategic Framework for
District/Urban State of the Environment Reporting (DU/SOER 2006) and the
<strong>Okavango</strong> Wetland <strong>Management</strong> Committee (OWMC).
The D/USOE proposes that at district level, the mandate structure, roles,
responsibility and composition of the District Land Use <strong>Plan</strong>ning Unit (DLUPU) will
incorporate D/USOER as a District Development <strong>Plan</strong>ning requirement.
The OWMC is a district multi-sectoral structure set up during the development of
<strong>Plan</strong>. The establishment of the OWMC is provided for in the Draft National
Wetlands Policy of 2000. This committee like any other committee in the district
should be answerable to the District Development Committee (DDC).
Coordination of the implementation of the ODMP is being strengthened through
enhanced collaboration between DEA and HOORC-UB to provide the required
technical support.
5.1.1.2 Implementation of Action plans
The ODMP recognises the sectoral mandates of the institutions which were involved
in the development of the plan with respect to the sectoral responsibilities outlined
in the action plans. While the current institutional arrangements still hold, intersectoral
collaboration needs to be strengthened. It is critical that the institutional
inadequacies in terms of manpower capacity, financial and other resources which
may hinder implementation be addressed during the implementation of the plan
5.1.1.3 Financial Resources
The ODMP recognizes the standing financial arrangements and processes in
government and this sets the premise for the financial and budgetary requirements
for ODMP implementation.
In order to secure financial resources for implementation, government departments
and institutions follow the normal budgeting procedures. This entails that activities
undertaken during the implementation of the plan be mainstreamed into other
existing or on-going programmes as planned under the current DDP6 and NDP9 as
well as the subsequent plans.
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