Botswana Integrated Water Resources Management – Water Efficiency (IWRM-WE) Project

1. Botswana Integrated Water Resources Management – Water Efficiency (IWRM-WE) Project Michael Ramaano IWRM/WE Project Manager, mike.ramaano@kcs.org.bw Tel: +267 3902407 Rhodes University, 2 – 4 April 2012

2. What is IWRM? • Its the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximise economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of ecosystems and the environment • Botswana is a semi-arid country with a mean average rainfall ranging between 200 – 400mm per annum • Depends highly on underground water • Shares 4 basins being Okavango, Limpopo, Zambezi and the Orange – Senqu river

3. What is IWRM? • Its the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximise economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of ecosystems and the environment • Goal ‘Operationalizing IWRM across Southern Africa, and contributing to environmentally, economically and socially sustainable development’ • Outcome 1: A dynamic IWRM Plan adopted and implemented for Botswana, which addresses national and trans-boundary water management priorities, integrate global environmental management objectives, and balances multiple uses of water resources

4. Outcome 1 Achievements • Drafted the National Water and Waste Water Policy in 2011, this is based on IWRM principles and will be presented to Parliament in May 2012 • Developing the IWRM-WE Plan, to be completed in Nov 2012 • Establishment of the Water Resources Council which will facilitate the implementation of the IWRM-WE plan • Prioritisation and implementation of activities identified in the National Action Plan for the Okavango Basin (TDA)

5. Botswana IWRM Project • Outcome 2: Increased awareness and capacity of national and regional stakeholders (government, private sector and members of the public) to engage in the IWRM (planning and implementation) process through regional knowledge management initiatives Outcome 2 Achievements • Build capacity and increase awareness on IWRM in collaboration with SIWI and CapNet • Put in place guidelines to facilitate IWRM implementation at local level and transboundary level • Liquid Waste Management Guidelines for the country and the Okavango River Basin addressing pollution issues

6. Botswana IWRM Project • Outcome 3: Demonstration Project: Water conservation through conjunctive use of Grey-water Re-use and harvested rainwater in schools within Botswana: A Pilot Case for IWRM and WE Plan Implementation. • Pilots meant to inform policy and practice in institutions • Uptake of the demonstration technologies encouraging esp. by the private sector e.g hotels (use of recycled water), DEBSWANA (storm water harvesting) and schools (rainwater harvesting)

7. Major Challenges & Constraints • The lack of uptake of the IWRM Concept and its implementation by other stakeholders i.e. agriculture, land authorities, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, legislative framework • Threats posed by the Water Sector Review initiatives as the environment is continuously changing • Difficulty of synchronising national and transboundary initiatives as a lot is happening at basin level but not at the same time • Delays in the disbursements of funds by the UN agency/ UNDP

8. Major Challenges & Constraints • High expectations by the stakeholders esp. those from the non- water sector • Economic downturn meaning environment and water resources are receiving less funding from govt and other co-financing partners. Project unable to access over USD 3 million committed during the project development • Failure to review some of the legislative instruments such as the Water Act - 1968, Borehole Act – 1956 • Difficulty in enforcing laws and regulations on government departments and ministries

9. MITIGATION AGAINST IMPACTS ON WATER RESOURCES • DEVELOPOMENT OF ALTERNATIVE – NON –CONVENTIONAL WATER RESOURCES e.g. 2010 RAINFALL – STORMWATER HARVESTING DAM AT ORAPA - cited as excellent example of rainfall harvesting in National scoping report for UNDP – GOB IWRMP, • AS follows: • “In 2009, Orapa and Letlhakane Mines commissioned • the construction of a million cubic metre storm water • dam whose primary objective is to harvest rainwater. • Much of Orapa's surface area is paved, and because • the water is being collected from running water and • rooftops, it is an advantage to the project. • The project has the potential to recover the total project • cost in about two years. The project cost is USD 8.1 million. • So far in the first year, the total cost benefit is USD 5.5 million. • The project is likely to recover the investment in less • than two years.”

10. Cost Benefit Total Project Cost – USD 5.5 M

11. Thank You