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The basin's natural wealthÌýprovides opportunities and potential for social economic development in the region. Currently, agriculture is the major socio-economic activity in the SMMÌýemploying 85% ofÌýpeople in the basin.ÌýHowever, poor agricultural practices, intensive land cultivation and sand harvestingÌýhave resulted in extensive landscape degradationÌýand loss of water quality in the basin. Addressing these challenges requires joint actionÌýand investmentÌýby both Uganda and Kenya in order toÌýimprove the health of theÌýtransboundary basin.

A recent Sio-Malaba-Malakisi working group meeting took place in Nairobi, Kenya (4-6ÌýNovemberÌý2019) guided and facilitatedÌýby the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ programme and the Intergovernmental Authority on DevelopmentÌý(IGAD) Secretariat.ÌýThe SMM working group -whose members are drawn fromÌýnational, county and district levels inÌýKenya and Uganda- discussed strategies to mobilise resources to fund the . TheseÌýaddressÌýstakeholders’ needs in terms of environmental protection and livelihood enhancement whilstÌýpromotingÌýtransboundary cooperation between Kenya and Uganda.

Progress inÌýthe SMM basinÌýhas been steady over the years and in part as a result ofÌýthe application of the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Benefit-Sharing Training (PDF-'Sharing the Benefits from the River').

"In particular for the SMM, theÌýBenefit Opportunities Assessment Tool orÌý'BOAT' was a key initial step in the development of the basin's Investment Project Plan. Likewise, using the Transboundary Instruments Development or 'TIDE' tool of the training framework, helped in the discussions and development of the SMM Memorandum of Understanding", said John Owino, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Water Programme Officer for the East and Southern Africa office.Ìý

Dr. Callist Tindimugaya from the Ministry of Water and Environment, Republic of Uganda, reiterated that transboundary water cooperation is not an option butÌýa must, as water doesn't recognize political boundaries andÌýcooperationÌýleads to added benefits such as regional collaboration, trade, peace and security.

Gladys Wekesa fromÌýthe Ministry of Water and Irrigation of the Republic of Kenya, noted the importance of the SMM investment planning process and institutional framework as a mechanism to enable stakeholders to realize concrete andÌýtangible results from transboundary water cooperation.

On behalf of IGAD,ÌýFred Mwango warned theÌýSMM is experiencing constraints due to deteriorating water quality and worsening water scarcity inÌýparts of the catchments,Ìýrequiring concerted efforts.ÌýHe noted that cooperation among the SMM riparian countries has been continuously evolving.

John Musila and Dr. Isaac Alukwe, on behalf of Uganda and Kenya, respectively expressed their gratitude to the IGAD Secretariat, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ and others for organizing the meeting during which stakeholders reaffirmed their commitments to working towards strengthened cooperation in the SMM transboundary basin.

The SMM working group adopted a roadmap for the first semester of 2020 for further joint work andÌýfinalisingÌýthe , as well as the SMM Memorandum of Understanding.

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For more information, please contact John.Owino[@]iucn.org

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