The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) has taken a major step towards strengthening water resources management across the region following the successful installation and testing of the Lake Victoria Basin Water Information System (LVB-WIS).
The three-day workshop, held from 17th to 19th February 2026 at the LVBC headquarters in Kisumu, brought together technical experts from the Republic of Burundi, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania, and Republic of Uganda, alongside LVBC staff.
Representatives from the Nile Basin Initiative and system development consultants also participated.
Developed under the Lake Victoria Basin Integrated Water Resources Management Programme (LVB-IWRMP), the LVB-WIS is designed to support policy-making and guide investment decisions for sustainable development in the basin.
Its use has already contributed to increased awareness, improved problem analysis, and stronger support for investment planning.
The system comprises a database platform integrated with water resources management models, while its built-in Knowledge Hub provides access to relevant IWRM data, maps, publications, and other key resources.
Managed by LVBC, the LVB-WIS serves as a shared facility for all Partner States, developed through close collaboration with national institutions and regional partners.
The workshop marked the transition of the system from a stand-alone platform to a fully operational client-server decision-support tool. During the sessions, the system was successfully installed on LVBC servers, and participants deployed the Operator Client and configured secure remote access via a Virtual Private Network.
Initial testing confirmed that users could seamlessly connect to the system, run workflows, and verify key functionalities, with no critical errors reported. Participants also received hands-on training in system operation and administration, strengthening their capacity to effectively utilise the platform.
An acceptance-testing schedule was agreed upon, with weekly validation sessions began on 3rd March 2026, paving the way for full operationalisation of the system.
LVBC noted that the successful deployment of the LVB-WIS marks a significant milestone in advancing data-driven planning and coordinated water resources management across the Lake Victoria Basin. The Commission further emphasised the importance of maintaining system stability, strengthening data backup procedures, and continuing capacity-building efforts to ensure the platform’s long-term sustainability and effectiveness.
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