The Hydrosystems Research Group has entered a partnership with the World Bank (WB) and the Government of Tanzania to demonstrate freshwater resilience principles in multiple river basins in Tanzania. Group members Casey Brown and Alec Bernstein participated in a World Bank scoping mission from 19 September, 2017 through 27 September, 2017 to lay the framework and connect with partners in country.
Sunset in Iringa, Tanzania – home to the Rufiji Basin Water Board office.
The Group members traveled with the World Bank to Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, and Morogoro in Tanzania. Casey Brown presented the Freshwater Resilience by Design methodology to the Permanent Secretaries (PS) of the Ministry of Environment (MOE) in Dar es Salaam as well as the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MOWI), the Ministry of Natural Resources (MONR), the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), and a broader technical team within the Water Resources Department (WRD) of the MOWI in Dodoma.
The Great Ruaha River near Mbuyuni, Tanzania.
The mission team also met with the Rufiji Basin Water Board and Wami-Ruvu Basin Water Board (BWB) in Iringa and Morogoro, respectively. The Freshwater Resilience by Design methodology was well received during these discussions with the Ministries, and the HRG was able to learn about ongoing activities by these organizations and the institutional frameworks that can assist with the implementation of the methodology in river basins in Tanzania. Cross sectoral coordination from various ministries is necessary to ensure the water needs of all stakeholders are considered while setting objectives within basins.
Casey Brown introducing the Freshwater Resilience by Design methodology to the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in Dodoma, Tanzania.
There are three basins identified to pilot the design methodology in Tanzania: the Rufiji, Wami-Ruvu, and Pangani basins. These basins have unique physical characteristics and socio-economic development patterns, and each presents a water resources challenge important to Tanzania’s development trajectory.
Alec Bernstein at the Msembe Ferry stream gauge station along the Great Ruaha River, Tanzania. Note the hippos in the background enjoying one of the only pools in the Great Ruaha during the dry season.
Competing sectoral water demands and uncoordinated future economic development plans in each basin will intensify these water resources challenges. Cross sectoral coordination from various sectors is necessary to ensure the water needs of all stakeholders are considered when allocating the finite available water. Several basins in Tanzania currently have IWRMD plans, however, the majority of these plans are a laundry list of investments that requires prioritization to be effectively realized. The Freshwater Resilience by Design methodology is a systematic process for evaluating and ranking investments singularly and in combination while accounting for future climate variability and change and other deep uncertainties that affect the performance of investments in water resources sector. The results is an investment road map for achieving water-related development goals that is resilient to the uncertainties and surprises of the future.
Elephants crossing the floodplain of the Great Ruaha River. During the dry season, flows are low, and increased irrigation abstractions from upstream agriculture has increased the prevalence of zero-flow days in recent times.
Continued engagement with the Government of Tanzania and the World Bank will continue throughout the next year. Check back on this site to learn more about the ongoing efforts in Tanzania.