Angola

OKAVANGO River Basin Project

Project Title: Environmental Protection and Sustainable Management of the Okavango River Basin Focal Point: Kamia Carvalho	Project Documents OKAVANGO River Basin Project (Project Document) Evaluation Reports Okavango Exchange Report Interim Evaluation of the environmental protection and Sustainable River Basin Project Capacity Building for Environmental Planning and Biodiversity Conservation in Angola: Final Evaluation
Project Code:	RAF/96/G42 or 00040920
Project Duration:	3 years: 2003 – 2006 – in process to be extended after an interruption phase of 1.5 year          Statut: Operationally closed
Sector:	Natural Resources (Water Resources Planning & Management)
Themes:	Management of the Okavango River Basin water resources
Budget Amount	USD 5.300.000
SOF	UNDP/GEF and Beneficiaries Government
Objective:	To alleviate imminent long-term threats to the linked land and water systems of the river through joint management of the water resources and the protection of its linked aquatic ecosystems, comprising all wetlands, fluvial and lacustrine systems and their biological diversity.
Target Beneficiaries:	Global and local communities ( Angola, Botswana and Namibia), government personnel and staff from local NGOs
Lead Country:	Angola
Implementing Partners:	Ministry of Energy and Waters (GHABIC)
Contact Persons	Mr. Gomes da Silva (Angola Operational Focal Point to GEF) 912 206743
Executing Agency	FAO Angola;

Brief Description:

The Okavango River Basin (ORB) remains one of the least human impacted basins on the African continent. Mounting socio-economic pressures on the basin in the riparian countries, Angola, Botswana and Namibia, threaten to change its present character. It is anticipated that in the long term this may result in irretrievable environmental breakdown and consequent loss of domestic and global benefits.  Maintaining these benefits requires agreement over the sharing of both the benefits and associated liabilities (to include those of an environmental and ecological nature) through a joint management of the water resources. 

To address the critical transboundary elements of the proposed EA (Environmental Assessment) and Integrated Management Plan (IMP), Stage I of GEF support will enable the completion of a Trans-boundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA), and formulate a Strategic Action programme (SAP).

The baseline cost of the project is estimated at $5,391,000 of which Angola, Botswana and Namibia funding are of $542,000 respectively.

Activities

The Trans-boundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) will: i) develop required physical and socio-economic models across the whole basin needed to facilitate joint management based on wide participation and the removal of institutional barriers; ii) structure diverse inputs and identify specific resources necessary for implementation of the trans-boundary elements of the EA and the IMP; iii) national policy and legislation.

Main Issues:  So far, some administrative issues not allow the start of the project. A meeting with all stakeholders will take place in Luanda between 12 and 17 April 2004 to try to solve all pending issues.

What has been achieved?

The project was signed in January 2003. The Project Manager arrived in October 2004. The establishment of the PMU is in process. The premises in Luanda are secured from June 2005. The National Project Coordinator and support staff --Admin Assistant, Secretary --, has been recruited. A field office in Menongue has also been secured from July 2005.

Governance issues still and are the main cause of the delay of all activities under the project.

PSC took place in October 2005 where was decided to prepare an independent project evaluation to measure how far is the execution of the work plan.

Constraints and bottlenecks:

- The project is behind schedule;

- Countries difficulties in agreement on the procedures of staff recruitment;

- Misunderstanding between the three countries concerning the roles and responsibilities of OKACOM and UN Agencies in the project administration;

- Executing Agency finance staff responsible for project budget turnover;

- ORB stakeholder identification and analysis, training needs assessments, and awareness-building and consultation processes in the riparian countries, consultancies to fill critical information gaps in the Angolan part of the ORB and initiate the TDA work have not been done.

Steps forward: 

- Establishment of regional expert working group (TTT);

- Establishment of the national interminestrial/intersectorial committees (NIC);

- Prepare an Independent Project Evaluation in a joint activity between FAO, UNDP and GEF.