Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

upstream – downstream interactions in the whole river basin and thus also at both
the regional and international scale.
Both Angola and Namibia have, among other aims, legitimate water resources
needs and interests and the potential and/or actual effects of realizing such needs
will have to be balanced with the sustainable conservation and use of the resources
in the <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> within Botswana.
Therefore it is within this context that ODMP communication strategy should be
fully implemented.
5.1.3.1 Empowerment of local and national stakeholders to implement ODMP
Empowerment of communities to take decisions on issues that affect them require
that they are fully able to understand the issues affecting their environment. This
understanding will be achieved through access to relevant information,
communication, dialoguing and networking among themselves and with other
stakeholder groups in addition to undertaking environmental programmes
themselves.
For the local stakeholders to participate in the implementation of the ODMP the
strategy would require that effective information exchange and communication
products should be used. It is important that the stakeholders should be fully
engaged to support the implementation. Moreover, it is crucial that capacitating
line ministries, government departments and officers effectively communicate with
stakeholders.
Platforms for information exchange, shared learning and best practices within and
among institutions and communities within the ODRS should be created.
5.1.3.2 Active engagement of basin wide, regional and international
stakeholders
Engagement of basin and regional stakeholders such as OKACOM, SADC
Directorates, other river basin authorities and commissions, line ministries in
Angola and Namibia is paramount in supporting the implementation of the ODMP
and balancing the needs of the riparian states. Focus should be given to the
establishment of platforms for communication and information exchange as well as
sharing of lessons from the <strong>Okavango</strong> basin wide initiatives. Bi-lateral
arrangements for sectoral exchange across the boundaries need to be strengthened.
The Government of Botswana through OKACOM intends to be proactive in
facilitating the principle of co-ownership of the entire basin with Riparian states.
This could be realised through the use of agreed benefit sharing mechanisms. In
addition the Government of Botswana should assist the other riparian states in
securing the support of international development partners to invest in sustainable
development programmes in the upstream reaches so as to reduce upstream
development which could negatively impacts on the survival of the <strong>Delta</strong>
downstream. Through existing and appropriate OKACOM structures
transboundary collaboration initiatives are being conceived through the <strong>Okavango</strong>
Basin Steering Committee (OBSC), technical task forces (hydrology and
biodiversity) and the Basin Wide Forum (BWF) for community level interventions.
Initiation of joint management projects such as hydrological monitoring, policy
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