1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1.1 Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC)

The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) is an institution of the East African Community established through the Protocol for Sustainable Development of the Lake Victoria Basin. It is mandated to coordinate, promote and facilitate sustainable management of the Lake Victoria Basin with the Secretariat headquartered in Kisumu, Kenya. In 2004, the EAC Council of Ministers approved the “Vision and Strategy Framework for Management and Development of Lake Victoria Basin (LVB)”, which essentially establishes a shared vision and a long term strategic plan for the sustainable management of the resources of the LVB and the economic development of the region.

1.2 Mara Day Declaration

The Mara ecosystem is one of the critical ecosystems in the Lake Victoria Basin that support sustainable socio-economic development and biodiversity conservation. Recognising the importance of the Mara ecosystem, the 10^th Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria Basin, held on 4^th May 2012 in Kigali, Rwanda, declared every 15^th September the “Mara Day”, to coincide with the great migration of wildlife from Serengeti National Park in the United Republic of Tanzania to Masai-Mara National Game Reserve in the Republic of Kenya.

The inaugural celebration of the Mara Day will take place in Mulot town in the Republic of Kenya on 15^th September 2012. The theme of the day will be “Mara –Uhai Wetu” (Mara –Our Life). The theme will vary each year.

2.0 Justification for MARA DAY

i. Raising awareness to communities to realise the dangers facing the MRB and what communities can do to address the issues;

ii. Engage politicians, policy makers and those in government to allocate more resources to the conservation of MRB

iii. Enhance Public Private Partnerships including resource mobilisation and investment opportunities

iv. Coordinated efforts of various stakeholders working in the MRB

v. Enhanced ecosystem conservation and livelihoods

3.0 Objectives of MARA DAY

i) Create awareness on the environmental and social challenges existing in MRB

ii) Stakeholder engagement on the opportunities for collaboration in MRB

iii) Raise profile of Mara River Basin as an investment opportunity.

iv) Chart the way forward for coordinated implementation of activities/interventions in MRB.

4.0 Activities to be undertaken on MARA Day

Activities will vary from year to year and will include among others:

i) Visit to Mara River Basin and the Serengeti/Masai Mara Ecosystem

ii) Visit communities and schools in the MRB

iii) Exhibitions by various stakeholders

iv) A procession and carnival in towns

v) Entertainment

vi) Speeches at a central venue

vii) Games among various stakeholders

viii) Essay competition

ix) Activities by hoteliers

A detailed programme will be developed for the day