Identification of a Multipurpose Water Resources Development Project in the Gucha Migori River Basin in Kenya

Origin of Funding: World Bank Nile Basin Trust Fund, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

Detailed project description:

Background:

Through the Lake Victoria basin, Kenya provides about 45% of the surface inflows into Lake Victoria and hence to the upper Nile. This interdependence between Kenya, its immediate neighbours and downstream Nile countries has considerable implications for the management of the countries water resources. The Lake Victoria basin routinely suffers from flooding and droughts contributing towards the extreme poverty in the basin. Multipurpose storage investments like hydropower development, irrigated agriculture, catchment conservation and flood control could bring benefits beyond Kenya. There is thus recognition of the need for a regional perspective on multipurpose water resources use and development together with appropriate management interventions to reduce the vulnerability of the affected communities to extremes in rainfall variability. Management as well as regulation of water resources is a critical factor underlying efforts to promote growth and raise incomes. The project to be identified in the Gucha Migori river sub basin will supplement ongoing initiatives through identification of measures (energy, irrigation, water supply, navigation as well as catchment protection) to contribute towards poverty alleviation in the basin, improved livelihood as well as watershed conservation. The Nile Equatorial Lakes region as a whole could benefit from increased energy availability, food security and improved water quality. By development of the Gucha Migori river sub basin, the Nile Basin Initiatives Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Program will generate ‘public goods’ such as flood and drought protection, improved watershed management, and contribution towards regional stability in the region.

Objective:

The overall objective is to contribute towards poverty reduction, reversal of environmental degradation and socioeconomic development in the region. The Project's objective is to identify a Multipurpose Water Resources Development in the Gucha Migori sub basin.

Services:

HYDROPHIL provided irrigation and hydrogeology experts for the following tasks:

Task 1: Diagnostic/Situational Analysis for management and development issues related to water resources within the Gucha Migori river sub basin with the aim of establishing the water resources development potential in the basin;

Task 2: Formulation of Multipurpose Basin Water Resources Development Strategy providing measures to manage and develop the resource in accordance with adopted goals and policies in the Kenyan water sector and providing broad directions for an investment programme;

Task 3: Formulation of Multipurpose Basin Water Resources Investment Plan comprising a project-oriented specific set of investments or projects within the Gucha Migori basin;

Task 4: Formulation of Bankable Investment Project falling within the National Planning framework and meeting project preparation and social and environmental safeguard requirements of the World Bank.