Using data collection to build trust and ownership in transboundary water allocation planning
a case study from the Mara River Basin
Lauren Zielinski (Zielinski Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation LLC)
Michael McClain (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, TU Delft - Civil Engineering & Geosciences)
William Ojwang (WWF Kenya)
Christian Joseph (WWF Tanzania)
David Tickner (WWF-UK)
Gordon Mumbo (Winrock International)
Ali Said Matano (Africa Centre for Health Environment & Water Services)
Joel Nobert (University of Dar Es Salaam)
Annette Huber-Lee (Stockholm Environment Institute, USA)
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Abstract
Following a 2015 Memorandum of Understanding, efforts began to develop a transboundary water allocation plan in the Mara River Basin between Kenya and Tanzania. Many lessons were learned along that way, including the importance of involving basin and national water authorities in all phases of data collection, planning and decision-making; understanding existing water management structures to promote communication and cooperation within countries; and using locally collected data whenever possible. Applying these concepts to future efforts can promote, although not ensure, ownership of the process within each country, trust between countries, and productive discussions around transboundary water resources.