1.1 Background to the Formation of the LPIANF

The last two years have witnessed growing cooperation among agencies and organizations working within the Lake Victoria Region. On December 11-12, 2006, a workshop on “Harmonization of Interventions within the Lake Victoria Regional Local Authorities” was organized by the Confidence Building and Stakeholder Involvement Project (CBSI) of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) in collaboration with the Lake Victoria Regional Local Authorities Cooperation (LVRLAC). The workshop was attended by 48 participants representing NBI (the NBI Secretariat, Nile-SEC, together with CBSI and the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program, NELSAP), Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development, UCSD (representing Eastern African Watch Network), UNHABITAT, and Sida (Sweden). Workshop deliberations recognized the lead role of Local Authorities in implementing developmental interventions and underlined the need for their integration in the identification, planning, and implementation of NELSAP small-scale project. One major outcome of the workshop was resolve of the participating institutions to work together to capture synergies.

In pursuing further cooperation, CBSI, LVRLAC, and UNHABITAT jointly organized a Regional Conference on Building Synergies for Sustainable Development of the Lake Victoria Region in Jinja in July 2007. Five main recommendations emanating from the deliberations called upon organizations to: Promote Interagency networking; Improve access to information (Promote accountability and transparency among the actors); Build capacity amongst the actors; Strengthen engagement with the Lake Victoria Basin Commission; and, Design and implement ‘Quick Win’ initiatives. From this conference, the different organizations agreed on the feasibility of closer cooperation and the need to form a network of Lead Partners to avail a platform for dialogue, consultations, and joint action in the Lake Victoria Basin region.

The Lead Partners Interagency Network Forum (LPIANF) was thus formed as a platform for dialogue and joint action bringing together LVRLAC, LVBC, NBI, UNHABITAT and UCSD. Through a series of 5 meetings, LPIANF deliberated on the requisite strategies and measures by which the Lead Partners can enhance their cooperation and capture synergies for the benefit of Lake Victoria Basin populations and environment. It was largely acknowledged that the Lead Partners had cultivated interest in working closely together. Furthermore, confidence and trust had been evidently augmented, and resolution for joint action consistently expressed and demonstrated through collaboration on specific agreed activities.

In the process of progressive dialogue, members recognized the need to articulate clearly the outputs and outcomes of LPIANF in the context of the varying mandates, concerns, and operational modalities of the Lead Partners identifying a common goal expressed as; “Strengthening local authorities as effective actors in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the various interventions launched by organizations in the LVB region”. To operationalize the goal, the need for a strategic framework is of primary importance to the LPIANF.

The strategic framework for LPIANF is guided by the key principles of complementarity and synergy building.

1.2 LPIANF Partners

Partnerships are a collaborative effort between organizations in which each contributes to the planning, resources, and activities needed to accomplish a shared objective. Accordingly, such partnerships are initiated to pursue common goals and often times, depend on complementarities between partners, institutionalized structure and support.

The partnership arrangement for LPIANF draws on the individual strengths of the lead actors and their collective need to forge stronger ties and coordinate their actions for better synergies and results in the LVB. LPIANF should serve as a coordinating platform for enhancing the value of interventions launched by the different lead agencies in the LVB. LPIANF should trigger effective capture and integration of the numerous interventions at the lowest functional units of government. The partnership arrangement recognizes the individual strengths of the respective lead agencies.

1.2.1 Nile Basin Initiative

The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is a regional partnership among nine Nile Basin States (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo) started in 1999 with a shared vision: ‘to achieve sustainable socioeconomic development through the equitable utilisation of, and benefit from, the common Nile Basin water resources’. To convert the Shared Vision into action, the NBI is implementing a Strategic Action Program comprised of two complementary programs: the Shared Vision Program1, (SVP), a basin-wide program comprising thematic/facilitative projects to build trust and capacity across the region; and the Subsidiary Action Program (SAP) to initiate concrete joint investments at sub-basin levels in the Eastern Nile (ENSAP) and the Nile Equatorial Lakes (NELSAP) regions. ENSAP is served by the Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office (ENTRO), based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, while NELSAP has its Coordination Unit (NELSAP-CU) based in Kigali, Rwanda.

NBI contribution to the LPIANF is based on the progress made in establishing a (transitional) regional institutional structure that has already yielded on-the-ground benefits. The governance and institutional structures and processes set up provide permanent mechanisms for constructive dialogue, planning and development among riparians, focused on the sharing of water and water’s benefits. Under the SVP, the evolving knowledge base and essential tools for integrated water resource management provide important ingredients for information sharing and stakeholder involvement. Under the SAPs, tangible, on the ground benefits provide for lessons and experience sharing. Such investments in the NELSAP include the recently agreed Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric and Multipurpose Project and the proposed Agriculture and Trade Project, as well as pre-investment activities in three transboundary sub-basins and Lake Albert

Presently the NBI has prepared to implement an Institutional Strengthening Project (NBI-ISP)with a development objective stated as; “The NBI has strengthened foundation for institutional sustainability, enhanced capacity, and harmonized corporate management to more effectively deliver programs and projects.” The NBI-ISP consists of a single, integrated package of institutional strengthening to be implemented through five components by the three institutions of the Nile Basin Initiative – the overall Nile Basin Secretariat (Nile-SEC) at Entebbe, Uganda; the Technical Regional Office of the Eastern Nile Subsidiary Action Program (ENTRO) at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and the Coordinating Unit of the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NELSAP-CU) at Kigali, Rwanda. In addition, a component to support the facilitation of the ratification of the Corporate Framework Agreement (CFA) might be added to the project once the CFA is signed.

1.2.2 Nile Basin Discourse

The Nile Basin Discourse (NBD) is a civil society institution established in 2002 to strengthen civil society participation in the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) developmental processes and programmes. NBD also ensures that NBI responds to the development needs of local communities by establishing benefit-sharing processes that will contribute significantly to more equitable and sustainable outcomes for poor people in the basin. Subsequently the NBD has established an unrivalled capacity to influence the policy agenda within the basin and the NBI through constructive dialogue and cooperation with the NBI and Nile Basin government officials responsible for NBI investment projects. As a Civil

1 SVP Projects, hosted by NB countries, are Nile Transboundary Environmental Action (Khartoum); Applied Training (Cairo), Regional Power Trade (Dar Es Salam); Efficient Water Use for Agriculture (Nairobi), Water Resources Planning and Management (Addis Ababa), and Socio-Economic Development and Benefit Sharing (Entebbe). Two Projects are hosted at the NBI-Secretariat (Nile-Sec) in Entebbe: Confidence Building and Stakeholder Involvement and the Shared Vision Program Coordination Unit. society engagement platform with the NBI, it provides a non-governmental pillar for sustained wider Nile Basin cooperation between state and society.

The mission of NBD is ‘to ensure that a fully-informed and basin-wide civil society develops and plays a key role in achieving the vision through proactive and critical influencing of projects, programs and policies of the Nile Basin Initiative and other development processes’.

NBD brings to the LPIANF the potential to build a collective voice in the Nile Basin, ensure conceptualization and engagement of NBI programmes, diversity of membership, capacity to raise awareness in the Basin. NBD also works through a decentralized system,( NBD General Assembly- NBD Board -NBD Regional Secretariat –National Discourse Forums – Local Discourse Forums), has strong and broad knowledge base through networking and information sharing, trans boundary links between NDFs within NBD, and partnerships with other institutions (NBI, governments, trans boundary authorities, media, business community among others.

1.2.3 Lake Victoria Region Local Authorities Cooperation

The Lake Victoria Region Local Authorities Cooperation (LVRLAC) is a network organisation of over 70 Local Authorities in the shore region of Lake Victoria with a mission; ‘to facilitate member LAs through building of strategic partnerships, harmonization of policies and promotion of knowledge on best practices that enhance the capacity of LAs to provide better living standards, services and opportunities for sustainable development in the LVR’. LVRLAC has been mobilising LAs and other stakeholders to adopt sustainable resource use approaches on the shared water body of Lake Victoria.

LVRLAC’s core competence is in facilitating and building the capacity of local authorities to undertake sustainable development initiatives and improve local governance. LVRLAC network also serves an advocacy platform for common issues along the shoreline of Lake Victoria aimed at promoting harmonious and peaceful co-existence. In addition, LVRLAC has also developed competencies in the area of learning and knowledge management through undertaking pilot model projects especially in the area of environmental protection and management. Furthermore, LVRLAC has over the years gained significant competences in network and partnership building through wide-ranging engagements with governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental actors at various levels.

To the LPIANF, LVRLAC has comparative developmental advantage with its strongest advantage lying in its hybrid institutional character. The organization is registered and operates as a non-governmental body that is constituted by governmental actors. It thus blends the operational flexibility of a non-governmental agency with the far reaching mandate and legitimacy of local governments to offer a great potential for wide-grassroots outreach and impact. Additionally, given the statutory /legislative and administrative mechanisms at the disposal of her members, LVRLAC has far greater potential to enlist policy changes and more effective enforcement of standards and policies at the local level within the region. The strong foundation built on grassroots political goodwill coupled with formal institutional links to the national associations of LG, enbales access to different levels of consensus building opportunities and synergy building.

1.2.4 UNHABITAT - Lake Victoria Region City Development Strategy Program

UN-HABITAT, with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), has implemented the first and second phases of the Lake Victoria City Development Strategies (CDS) programme. The programme aims to mobilize city authorities along Lake Victoria, and other stakeholders to develop a regional framework for laying out City Development Strategies. These strategies uphold popular, private and public participation in decision-making and focus on building consensus on key environmental and poverty issues. The project has been an effort to address the absence of effective planning in cities and to complement the master planning approach, which emphasizes physical and spatial planning and is non-inclusive.

The main purpose of Phase III is to develop and consolidate a regional approach to improved urban environment and poverty reduction in the region. The third phase of the programme covers key areas that are in tandem with UN-HABITAT’s global strategic focus of sustainable urbanization. By strengthening programme support at the regional and national levels, this third phase will ensure that the Lake Victoria City Development Strategies partners will play an increasingly important role in achieving the MDGs for poverty reduction and environmental sustainability, particularly contributing to the goal of improving the lives of 100 million slum dwellers by 2020.

UNHABITAT brings to the LPIANF, a repository of sustainable development models and a wide range of knowledge opportunities. UNHABITAT also provides avenue for global advocacy that would leverage concerns of LVB beyond the region.

1.2.5 Lake Victoria Basin Commission

The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) is a product of the Lake Victoria Development Programme established by the East African Community in 2001 as a mechanism for coordinating the various interventions on the Lake and its Basin; and serving as a centre for promotion of investments and information sharing among the various stakeholders. LVBC is guided by a shared vision and strategy framework for sustainable development of LVB.

The shared vision and strategy framework identifies five policy areas namely; Ecosystem, natural resources and environment; production and income generation; living conditions and quality of life; population and demography; and governance, institutions and policies. Through the coordination role of LVBC, various Actors have been mobilized towards establishing synergies in the different interventions launched within the LVB.

LVBC is the coordinating institution for sustainable development in the LVB. It thus brings to the LPIANF regional legitimacy built on well-grounded legal systems established under the East African Community. LVBC presents a channel through which LPIANF can influence strategic policy changes and attain the highest levels of regional advocacy.

1.2.6 East African Sustainability Watch Network (c/o Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development)

The Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development (formerly the Uganda NGO Rio + 10 Coalition) has since 2001 been working as a loose network of more than 50 participating NGOs with a Secretariat formerly hosted by Joint Energy and Environment Projects (JEEP).

UCSD has since 2005 been co-hosting the International Network Secretariat (INS) of the Sustainability Watch Project (more: www.suswatch.org) and is the National Focal Point for this project in Uganda. The principle organs of the Coalition are the General Assembly, a Secretariat of 3 fulltime staff and 2 volunteers and an Executive Committee composed of representatives from its Thematic Group lead NGOs, Women, Youth and other interest groups. [link to a profile of UCSD Executive Committee members and Thematic groups].

UCSD brings to the LPIANF a well grounded grassroots advocacy and lobbying framework where issues of grassroots concerns can be articulated at various governmental levels.

1.3 Stakeholders

Partnership and synergy building constitute the backbone of LPIANF strategic approach. This approach has been driven by the recognition that the existence of strong regional institutions with a well defined framework for cooperation and coordination offers the best prospect for sustainable development intervention in the Lake Victoria Region. To this end, LPIANF has invested substantial efforts in building confidence among its key partners and bridging ties with other national and regional institutions sharing in their interest.

LPIANF stakeholders and partners can be categorized under 3 broad categories namely;

1. Primary stakeholders

2. Secondary stakeholders

3. Tertiary stakeholders

The Primary stakeholders are the core members of the forum and the constituencies they represent. It is recognized that each of the lead agencies draws its mandate from a membership structure, either intergovernmental, inter-institutional or inter-organizational. NBI through CBSI and NELSAP, LVBC, UNHABITAT (Urban Environment Section), LVRLAC, NBD and UCSD constitute the forum and hence the primary movers. Affiliate structures to the agencies such as the regional media networks, national discourse forums, and national associations of local government relate closely with the lead partners.

Secondary stakeholders include the respective national ministries responsible for the sectoral interventions and programmes of the individual lead partners such as the Ministries of Water Development, Environment, Local Government, and Regional Cooperation respectively. Regional intergovernmental and inter-institutional programmes such as LVEMP, LVFO and ViCRES as well as regional civil society networks such as ECOVIC and LVYO relate with the work of the LPIANF. Donor organizations and development partners with specific interest are in this category of stakeholders.

Tertiary stakeholders in this case include those bodies and organizations that serve in the LVB but may not have an immediate interest or influence in the work of LPIANF. These bodies include EAC secretariat, research and development institutions such as the Universities (IUCEA).