Project description

Title: Transborder water management in the Congo Basin
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Financier: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Africa, transnational (located in DR Congo)
Lead executing agency: Commision Internationale du Bassin Congo-Oubangui-Sanga (CICOS)
Overall term: 2006 to 2015

Context

The Congo River, with its catchment area of 3,700,000 square kilometres, is the principal river of Africa. Nine countries together control a significant part of the river basin. The ecosystem of the area is considered one of the world’s richest in terms of the number of species.

The river offers great potential for energy generation, shipping and irrigation, although the riparian countries have hardly developed these resources to date. An increasing number of other countries are now also declaring an interest in using the water resources of the Congo Basin. However, any tapping of its waters could lead to serious conflicts if such measures are not negotiated fairly with all the countries affected. So far, there has been no effective cross-border water management involving the Congo states, based on joint strategies and principles. There is no conclusive agreement on how to coordinate large-scale infrastructural measures, nor is there an effective general concept for collective sustainable development of water resources. In 2003, four countries (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic) ratified an accord setting up the International Commission of the Congo-Oubangui-Sangha Basin (CICOS). This is the first step in strengthening regional cooperation in the shipping sector and in the management of the basin water resources.

Objective

Management of the Congo Basin is coordinated between the CICOS member states and takes place in accordance with the specifications of the regional agreement governing inland navigation and transborder water resource management.

Approach

Transborder management of the Congo River Basin requires intensive exchanges between CICOS and the national institutions in its four member countries. The project starts by bringing together national actors in working groups, round tables, workshops and joint training sessions. By organising and chairing the coordination and decision-making processes, the national actors become involved and take personal responsibility for carrying out the collective measures. Intensive interaction strengthens vertical and horizontal networks and creates trust by building personal contacts. As such, the project assumes a neutral and intermediary role, supporting coordination and the formulation of legislation, regulations and guidelines to promote shipping and water resources management.

The project works with the CICOS General Secretariat, building its capacity and reinforcing its coordinating role in the basin area. In particular, it is helping to develop appropriate tools that will enable a regional agreement on water resources management to be applied. It is also providing technical advice for the establishment of a central information system on water resources in the basin. This will be closely linked to the national information systems of the individual riparian countries (pilot activities with the DR Congo), and to data-collection systems already existing throughout the basin. Institutions in the riparian countries and stakeholders from across the basin will have access to this data and take an active part in updating it and in knowledge management. The project has also established a regional training centre for navigation personnel. This will provide advanced vocational training for the personnel of river ships and for those involved in navigation administration.

Results achieved so far

The project has been supporting the basin commission almost since it began operating in 2004. Since then, the capacities and internal organisation of the CICOS General Secretariat have developed to the point that it is regarded today by all in the Congo Basin as an efficient and dependable organisation, and one that is well placed to coordinate the dialogue among the riparian countries on the management and development of the basin.

The central information system at the CICOS Secretariat General has now been established. Connections have already been made between it and the national information systems for the navigation sector, while in the water resources sector, such linkages are still being developed.

Working with the project, CICOS has developed navigation regulations that put into effect the regional agreement. In the four member countries, personnel from the relevant administrations have been trained to implement and monitor these regulations, which have the additional benefit of enhancing exchanges and cooperation among the member countries.

Finally, the regional training centre is now operational. It offers refresher courses to ships captains and personnel, as well as to administration personnel from the four countries.

Further information

• Commision Internationale du Bassin Congo-Oubangui-Sanga (CICOS)
  www.cicos.info