In a nutshell, the Lake Victoria Water Resources Project ( LVWRP) is
about development of water resources information systems, mathematical
models and tools in support of a harmonized, regionally coordinated water
resources management in the Lake Victoria basin. It is a regional project
funded by Japan, executed by FAO, and being implemented since January '96
in the three riparian countries of the Lake Victoria - Kenya, Tanzania
and Uganda. The LVWRP is scheduled to complete all major activities and
outputs by June '99.
Some facts about the project area
Apart from being one of the sources of the Nile river, Lake Victoria is also one of the world's largest fresh water bodies which is shared by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The gross economic product in the lake catchment is about US$ 3 to 4 million annually and supports an estimated population of 25 million people at average incomes in the range of US$ 90 to US$ 270 per annum. Population density in the Lake basin is above the national average in all countries and the populations of the riparian communities grow at rates that are among the highest in the world. The environmental challenges are besetting the Lake: the introduction of an exotic fish, the Nile perch, is upsetting the ecological balance with harm for biodiversity, the inputs of nutrients stemming from the Lake catchment are resulting in considerable eutrophication and a water hyacinth invasion has caused a host of problems.
Land and water resources of the Lake Victoria basin constitute one of
the main development potentials in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. There is
a pressing need for irrigation in dry areas of Kenya and Tanzania and for
urban, rural and industrial water supplies in all three countries. Uganda
needs an undiminished flow of water from the Lake Victoria basin for power
generation. Major natural and anthropogenic disturbances of the Lake basin
water balance can change the water level and flow regime with serious effects
the scope of which is unknown or not completely understood and is yet to
be properly investigated and quantified. Lake Victoria is also the source
of the Victoria Nile and thus the subject of keen interest by downstream
countries, a fact which further accentuates the inherent complexities and
uncertainties involved in water resources management in the Lake basin.
The LVWRP output
In addressing some of the many gaps in water sector and requirements expressed by the countries of the region, the LVWRP is focusing its efforts on establishment and delivery of the following outputs for the Lake Victoria basin:
All major activities of the project are implemented at national level
in Kenya, Tanzania
and Uganda - through Focal Point Institutions
and National Coordinators of the project designated by the Governments
of the three participating counties. The activities are initiated and coordinated
by the FAO Chief Technical Adviser and his technical staff, presently consisting
of two Associate Professional Officers from the Netherlands and supporting
personnel all stationed at the Project Office
in Entebbe, Uganda. FAO provides technical and administrative backstopping
while overall guidance and supervision of the project implementation rests
on the Project Steering Committee.