Integrating Climate Change in Water Ressources Monitoring and Planning

projekt beendet

ContextClimate change is bringing more variable precipitation and temperatures to Zambia. Extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts and heavy rainfall, are already being seen and will become more intense and frequent in future. The impacts of climate change are having a substantial impact on living conditions. Population groups such as women and the poor are especially hard hit, particularly in rural areas.Greater climate variability also poses a challenge for all water uses. National institutions are aware of the possible impacts. However, stakeholders lack reliable information and analyses that would allow them to take action. Climate change has thus not been adequately taken into account when managing water resources to date.ObjectiveClimate change is integrated more fully into water resources management.StrategyThe project provides advisory services to the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA), which was founded in 2012. This advice focuses on the establishment of the water resources information system (IWRMIS) and the use of this system to integrate climate change into water resource plans and allocation. The programme also provides advisory support on cooperation with other stakeholders in this context and on the use of the information system and planning instruments in the Kafue catchment area as model projects.The development of Zambia’s economy is heavily dependent on the sustainable and efficient use of the available water resources. Against this backdrop, reforms to water resources monitoring are to be carried out with the aim of improving planning and allocation. Adapting water management to the anticipated negative impacts of climate change at an early stage allows future conflicts to be prevented and available resources to be planned and allocated more efficiently. Water resources management plans provide a stronger basis for planning and greater sustainability for investments in irrigated agriculture, industrial water use and hydro power generation. This creates a favourable climate for investment and thus promotes the development of the country’s economy.Results and impactsThe Devolution Trust Fund has provided access to water supply facilities to approximately one million people. Sanitary improvements for 15.600 people have been reached within four sanitation projects. Another six projects on sanitation have started in 2012 and are expected to reach another 30.000 people. The water utilities supported by GIZ have improved their operational efficiency and Utility Governance, as confirmed by benchmarking system of the regulator NWASCO. The Provincial Support Team in the Eastern Province trained and advised more than 2.000 members of district councils, district committees and provincial administrations in areas like project management, monitoring, controlling and cross-cutting issues (gender, HIV/AIDS, environment). Since 2014, MLGH has elaborated an Urban Sanitation, a Capacity Development and a Gender Strategy, enabling it to better guide and harmonise activities in the water sector. The Water Resources Management Authority, since 2014, is developing its activities through installation catchment councils and introduction of a new permit system, for more equitable water use.Improved access to water and sanitation and behaviour change in health and hygiene assumingly contribute to reduce the number of AIDS deaths, through better care. The program supports the regulator (NWASCO) and the eleven provincial urban water utilities to carry out work place programmes and external communication on HIV/ AIDS and Gender.The studies also evaluated the impacts of climate change on water availability. Forward planning allows water management to be adapted to the expected negative impacts of climate change in the future.

Medium