1. DRILLING AND CONSTRUCTION OF MONITORING BOREHOLES ALONG THE MOHOKARE RIVER
  2. Construction of Three (3) Hydrometric Stations for Department of Water Affairs
  3. Press release- ORASECOM welcomes new head, Executive Secretary – Molosiwa
  4. Project Assistant
  5. Consulting Services to provide technical support and facilitate private sector engagement within the Orange-Senqu River Basin
  6. Executive Secretary: Orange Senqu River Commission
  7. TERMS OF REFERENCE For The Appointment of a Service Provider for The Review of The Estuarine Management Plan (EMP) For The Orange – Senqu River Mouth Estuary
  8. PROCUREMENT, SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF EQUIPMENT FOR /AI- /AIS NATIONAL PARK AND DREIHUK PROSOPIS HARVESTING SITES, IN NAMIBIA
  9. Consultancy services to facilitate the marketing and sales of prosopis products for /ai-/ais, dreihuk, gibeon and mariental pilot sites
  10. Procurement for supply, installation, training and commissioning of water quality monitoring and laboratory equipment for Orasecom member state of Lesotho
  11. Consulting Services – Water Information System (WIS)
  12. Support to the Orange River Mouth rehabilitation project
  13. Namibia prepares for combating Prosopis
  14. ORASECOM is hiring consultants
  15. 4th SADC Groundwater Conference 10-12 November 2021
  16. Botswana Desalination Plant Project Launched
  17. 39th IAHR World Congress
  18. Water is a matter of life and death – Opinion piece
  19. Webinar: Transboundary Water Management under conditions of Climate and Political Uncertainty: Middle Eastern and South African Perspectives
  20. World Water Week Groundwater Webinar
  21. Interview with Lenka Thamae, Executive Secretary of ORASECOM on the Lesotho-Botswana Water Transfer scheme
  22. Webinar Series: Groundwater – Base Rock of Resilience
  23. Climate Resilient Water Resources Investment Strategy & Plan & Lesotho-Botswana Water Transfer (L-BWT) Project
  24. GIZ
  25. Joint Water Resources Quality Survey (JBS)
  26. FGEF Support
  27. Water Information System (WIS)
  28. Joint Irrigation Authority (JIA)
  29. Water Information System (WIS)
  30. Adequate Rainfall Predicted for SADC October-December Season
  31. Orange-Senqu Basin Wide Groundwater Survey
  32. Fundraising for the Lesotho-Botswana Water Transfer Project
  33. Orange-Senqu River Awareness Kit
  34. International Conference on FRESH WATER GOVERNANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, 5th – 7th November, 2012, Champagne Sports Resort, Central Drakensburg (KwaZulu-Natal), South Africa
  35. 4th Orange-Senqu River Basin Symposium, 6th – 7th June 2012, Campus of the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
  36. The African Transboundary River Basin Support Programme came to an end
  37. Towards Transboundary Evironmental Assessment Guidelines for the Orange-Senqu River Basin
  38. ORASECOM initiates work on the Orange-Senqu River Learning Box
  39. The ORASECOM Secretariat takes delivery of a three dimensional map of the basin
  40. ORASECOM publishes its “State of the Orange-Senqu River System” Report
  41. ORASECOM initiates work on the Orange-Senqu River Learning Box
  42. Training on Aquatic Ecosystem Health Monitoring
  43. The Urban Pollution Workshop at Mohale Dam
  44. Phase 2 of an IWRM Plan Development Project came to an end
  45. ORASECOM opens the Secretariat offices
  46. ORASECOM is visited by the Volta Basin Authority
  47. Training on Water Resources Yield Simulation Models
  48. ORASECOM at the 3rd Africa Water Week in Addis Ababa
  49. ORASECOM comes of age at 10!
  50. ORASECOM participates in the 13th International RiverSymposium
  51. ORASECOM works with the Benguela Current Commission
  52. Environmental Flows Requirements Site selection and survey for Caledon, Kraai, South Africa & Lesotho
  53. First Delphi Workshop, June 2010, North West, South Africa
  54. ORASECOM Prepares for the Joint Basin Survey – 1
  55. Workshop on Stakeholder Participation – Maseru, Lesotho
  56. Visit of the Nile Equatorial Subsidiary Action Plan group
  57. Visit to Lesotho Flow Gauging Stations

SUPPORT TO THE ORANGE-SENQU RIVER STRATEGIC ACTION PROGRAMME

IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT

BRIEF PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The overall objective of this project is the strengthening of joint management capacity for implementation of the basin-wide IWRM Plan and demonstrating environmental and socioeconomic benefits of ecosystem-based approach to water resources management through the implementation of SAP priority actions in the Orange-Senqu River basin. Although it is not realistic to separate the IWRM Plan into distinct components, it is fair to say that the SAP largely represents the environmental component of the overall IWRM Plan. The SAP is aimed at dealing with the four main threats as identified by the TDA, i) increasing demand on water resources, ii) changes to hydrological regime; iii) declining water resources quality and iv) land degradation. Improving environmental monitoring is a critical part of SAP implementation and will be important in tackling the first three of these threats. Getting agreement on E-flows basin wide will underpin addressing changes to the hydrological regime and dealing with alien species will be contribute to reducing land degradation

SAP PROJECT

ORASECOM, with support from UNDP, secured further financial support from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) to implement selected priority activities of the Strategic Action Programme (SAP).  The UNDP-GEF project titled, Support to the Orange-Senqu River Strategic Action Programme Implementation, will be implemented by UNDP and executed by ORASECOM in the next 5 years to support ORASECOM and its member states to implement SAP. The Investment from GEF is USD 10,815,137.

 

The project has been built on the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) which carried out the necessary causal chain analyses in order to identify the transboundary threats to the sustainable development and management of the water resources of the Orange-Senqu Basin. Having identified and understood the threats and their causes, it was possible to identify the barriers which are preventing the removal of these threats, so that sustainable development/management of the basin’s water and related resources can proceed.

 

The SAP has then, through a stakeholder-driven process across all four countries, with discussions at the national and regional levels, drawn up an action plan aimed at removing these barriers, thus ensuring that the required changes can happen.

 

 

 

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

Resources

Project Brief [ SAP Implementation Project Brief final.pdf ]

Project Launch [ SAP Project Launch_December 2019 .pdf ]

Project Media Realise