The Resilient Waters Program Launched in Angola

OKACOM and USAID Southern Africa jointly launched USAID’s Resilient Waters Program in Menongue, Angola on 24 September, 2019. The launch brought together 45 local stakeholders which included representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Water of Angola, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) - such as ACADIR, Halo Trust, National Geographic, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), representatives from the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFC) and members of the Okavango River Basin Commission Steering Committee (OBSC).

The USAID Resilient Waters is a five-year, USD 32 million project, with a goal to build more resilient and water secure Southern African communities and ecosystems through improved management of trans-boundary natural resources and increased access to safe drinking water and sanitation services. USAID will cooperate with Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), and other regional structures such as River Basin Organizations and Transfrontier Conservation Areas to implement the project and achieve its aims of building resilience and water security in Southern Africa. The main beneficiaries of this programme are the two river basin organisations (RBOs), OKACOM and Limpopo watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) and the two Trans-frontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) of Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA), Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GL-TFCA) and Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The engagement with OKACOM will focus on the implementation of the OKACOM Strategic Action Programme for the Cubango Okavango River Basin (CORB). The programme will enhance trans-boundary governance structures and build cooperation between stakeholders to improve planning and implementation of initiatives. Resilient Waters and OKACOM have been working on aligning their action plans, to carry out the implementation of activities in the CORB. Going forward Resilient Waters Program will engage OKACOM, International Cooperating Partners (ICPs), NGOs and community groups, and other partners in Angola to produce interventions that will address natural resource management, water, sanitation, and hygiene challenges.

At the launch the Resilient Waters Program was introduced to the political and administrative leadership of the Cuando-Cubango Province. The event was also a platform to engage with key stakeholders and partners currently implementing related activities in Angola with a view to synergise efforts which will uplift the livelihoods of local communities by providing improved and safe access to water and sanitation services.

Speaking at the launch, OKACOM’s Executive Secretary, Phera Ramoeli, stated that ““The Support from the United States Government through the USAID Resilient Water Project is coming at an opportune time when OKACOM is at the height of the implementation of the SAP and is a continuation of the previous support from the USAID which started around 2005/6. These will go a long way in ensuring resilience to climate change among the communities living in the basin and improvement of their livelihoods.” The launch was officiated by the Vice Governor of the Cuando- Cubango Province, Dr. Sara Luísa Mateus.