FIVE BARRIERS IDENTIFIED

Barrier 1: Limited basin-wide understanding of available resources

To manage and develop the resources in the basin, it is important to have a clear understanding of what is available, how this changes over time and what factors are important in maintaining a healthy system.

Barrier 2: Limited potential for additional yields of water in the system

The margin between water demand and water available is small.  Using water more efficiently and effectively, especially in the irrigation sector, and exploring alternative sources, will make more water available. This can also will help make provision for environmental flow requirements and to address water quality issues, both of which will improve the health of aquatic ecosystems.

Barrier 3: Deteriorated quality of water resources. Declining water quality is perceived as one of the biggest threats to the basin’s water resources. Acid mine drainage, inadequate sewage treatment and irrigation return flows are three areas that require continued intervention. Although many water quality issues are localised, they are common to all four basin states. Improved understanding of the sources, types and extent of water quality issues is required, and basin-wide water quality guidelines need to be provided. Improving water quality will make more water available and enhance the overall health of the system.

Barrier 4: Adverse effects of a changed hydrological regime. Decreased water in the system and the reduced size and frequency and timing of floods in the river system have had a negative effect on the functioning of the basin’s riparian and estuarine ecosystems. The estuary (a Ramsar site) has also been affected by various developments and activities in the immediate vicinity. Several environmental flow requirements studies have been carried out in different areas of the basin, each with valid yet not necessarily integrated recommendations.

Barrier 5: Environmental degradation and unsustainable land use. Environmental degradation and unsustainable land use: Land degradation affects people’s livelihoods, as well as the dynamics and quality of water in the basin. The effects of degradation on rangelands at the headwaters of the Orange–Senqu are of concern, as is degradation around pans in southern Botswana and invasion of the riparian zone by invasive alien plants. Addressing these areas of degradation will make the land more productive as well as improve water quality, hydrological functioning and water yields.

While the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) and State Parties’ Action Plans (NAP) were drawn up through a consultative process to address the priority problem areas identified by the TDA, the specific actions and activities that form the ToR of the proposed project have been formulated with the removal of barriers in mind. This is evident in the basin wide objectives and targets that the countries have collectively set, and which provide the framework for the project.

PROJECT COMPONENTS & OUTPUTS

 Component 1 Outcomes

The objective of Component 1 is to contribute to the enhanced transboundary basin planning and joint management of the basin. Realisation of this objective will especially contribute to the removal of Barrier 1, the limited basin-wide understanding of the available resources but also to removal of the other 4 barriers because of improved management. There are several targeted outcomes for Component 1.

Outcome 1.1: ORASECOM’s capacity to develop innovative financing schemes strengthened.

Outcome 1.2: ORASECOM’s joint basin planning capacity strengthened through improved data and information management and basin management support systems.

Outcome 1.3: SAP and country-specific Action Plans revised and updated for next 5-year cycle. 

Outcome 1.4: Transboundary Environmental and Social Assessment Guidelines endorsed by Basin States.

Outcome 1.5: ORASECOM’s capacity on communication, knowledge management, south-south cooperation enhanced.

Component 2 Outcomes

The outcomes of Component 2 are mainly aimed at addressing Barrier 3, the deteriorated quality of water resources. Focus is on industrial pollution and groundwater resources but the importance of water quality monitoring is given emphasis. The component also address Barrier 2, the limited potential for additional yields in the system by looking at how groundwater resource can be better used and protected.

Outcome 2.1: Basin-wide water resources quality monitoring system established

Mohokare Catchment reduced and improved industry standards implemented.

Outcome 2.3: Quantity and quality of groundwater resources determined, and low-cost groundwater desalination plants piloted in Botswana.

Component 3 Outcomes

Component 3 focuses on Addressing Changes to the Hydrological Regime through the application of the “Source-to-Sea concept”. This will contribute in a critical way to the removal of Barrier 4, the adverse effects of a changed hydrological regime. As indicated above, the hydrological regime has been highly altered.

Key areas will include agreement on environmental flows and their implementation and the implementation of measures to sustainably rehabilitate the Orange-Senqu River Mouth.

Outcome 3.1: Basin-wide environmental Flows regime agreed, and implementation supported.

Outcome 3.2: Critical ecosystem of the Orange-Senqu River Mouth rehabilitated and sustainably managed.

Component 4 Outcomes

Component 4 is concerned with improved land productivity and improved living conditions through community-based sustainable land management. The focus area under this project will be on the control of invasive species in pilot areas on the Fish River in Namibia and the lower Orange in both Namibia and South Africa.

OUTCOME 4.1: Invasive species controlled through integrated management in pilot areas in the Orange–Fish River basin and livelihood options based on invasive species control developed.

Output 4.1.1: Distribution and abundance of invasive species in the basin determined and mapped

Output 4.1.2: Prosopis in pilot areas cleared

The work required to realise this output will be planned and designed together with Output 4.1.3.

Output 4.1.3: Economic opportunities based on alien clearing created

WORK AREAS

The Support to the Orange-Senqu River Strategic Action Programme is implemented in four countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa. Current work in each country includes:

Botswana

Design and building of groundwater desalination plants in the villages of Rappelspan and Struizendam in the Kgalagadi South District in Botswana

Lesotho

Baseline study on the sources of water pollution in the Mohokare River Catchment in Lesotho

Namibia

Baseline study on the distribution and abundance of alien invasive species, Prosopis, in the Orange – Senqu part of the basin in Namibia

South Africa

Baseline assessment for the Orange – Senqu River Mouth rehabilitation demonstration project in South Africa and Namibia

Regional

Expression of Interest for the Water Resources Quality Joint Basin Survey 3 in the Orange – Senqu River Basin

Development of an Operations (Financial Management, Procurement and Human Resources) Manual for the ORASECOM Secretariat

United Nations Development Programme’s Social and Environmental Screening for the Orange–Senqu River Basin SAP Implementation Project for demonstration project in Botswana

United Nations Development Programme’s Social and Environmental Screening for the Orange–Senqu River Basin SAP Implementation Project for demonstration projects in Lesotho, South Africa and Namibia

Contacts

Simbotwe Mwiya

Project Coordinator

Email: Simbotwe.mwiya@undp.org