UNSIA Newsletter Issue 1, December 1997
WMO Spearheads National Water Assessments
An Informal Water Working Group was formed in April 1996 to guide implementation of the water objective under the SIA. This Working Group, co-chaired by UNEP and the World Bank, has helped define common operational goals for the SIA water component and identified initial countries of focus: Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique and Uganda. In addition, the Zambezi River Basin has been specifically selected to demonstrate coordination of UN efforts and inter-agency cooperation within the context of trans-boundary river basin management and planning.
Under the Special Initiative on Africa, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is tasked with expansion of fresh water resources assessment in African countries. WMO has developed an implementation strategy that is based on the recommendations of a water resources policy and strategy conference held in Addis Ababa in March 1995 and on technical feasibility of various proposals.
In 1996 the WMO appraised Ethiopia’s capacity to assess its water resources and to forecast floods. A draft project profile on water resources assessment was prepared and discussed with the Ethiopian government. WMO recommended that the observation and telecommunication networks be rehabilitated.
In Mali, the WMO is implementing a UNDP funded project on water assessment and environment protection and is involved in a region-wide water resources assessment project preparation funded by the French Ministry of Cooperation.
Although WMO does not have any country level hydrology and water resources project in Mozambique and Uganda, both countries will benefit from regional water resources assessment activities.
With its rapid urbanization, the water resources in the Zambezi River Basin are focus of interest. UNIDO and WMO are developing a project proposal to rehabilitate and upgrade the region’s water quality monitoring network as a first step in pollution control. On behalf of the Zambian government, and with funding from the Norway, WMO will procure satellites based telemetering system for data collection in the upper parts of the River basin.
WMO’s water resources assessment activities fall under its World Hydrological Cycle Observing System (WHYCOS).
In Africa, HYCOS projects are being implemented on a regional and sub-regional basis.