The World Bank and Lake Victoria Basin Commission have jointly agreed on a multi-phase programme for strengthening resilience of communities, ecosystems and economies in Lake Victoria Basin.
The two institutions have already identified key priority areas and challenges to be addressed in the respective areas where the proposed projects will be implemented.
Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) had presented several broad priority interventions areas under five Thematic Sectors that included Environment, ecosystem landscape/land use and Water resources/sanitation.
Delegates from the World Bank attending the meeting
Others were climate change resilience (including climate induced migration), agriculture, Lake Victoria Basin blue economy, maritime transport, trade, fisheries and aquaculture.
Infrastructure connectivity and services, energy, and digital services, Cross-cutting issues and institutional strengthening were also presented.
World Bank team and LVBC Executives at the Kisumu Inland Port
The main aim of the program is to improve Lake Victoria Basin ecosystem health through pollution reduction and enhance climate resilient socio-economic productivity.
The specific objectives of the multi-sectoral programme are to enhance ecosystem resilience through integrated climate-smart and Nature-based watershed rehabilitation and stabilization investments.
Fish monger at the Dunga beach where the World Bank team visited
It also aims Improve Lake Victoria’s water quality and well being of communities through integrated pollution control and environmental sanitation services and investments and Promote development and accelerate investments in climate resilient Lake Victoria Basin Blue Economy.
A member of Kajulu group explains a point to Ms Boutheina.
The world team led by Director for Regional Integration for Sub Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa Ms Boutheina Guermazi visited the commission for multi sectoral engagement.
World Bank team at the LVBC headquarters
The team also visited the Kisumu inland port,Kisumu wastewater treatment plant, Dunga beach, Nyalenda informal settlement and Kajulu landscape site.
World Bank team at the Kisumu Wastewater treatment plant
Ms Boutheina said, “We are glad to visit the commission headquarters and to engage further on how we can partner and support the implementation of various projects that will have positive impacts to millions of people”.
Lake Victoria Basin Commission Executive Secretary Dr Masinde Bwire said, “I appreciate your presence and constructive engagements that we have had and look forward to better outcome”.