GEF supports climate resilient water management in the Zambezi Basin

The Global Environment Facility has approved a grant of US$9.45million to support a major regional initiative aimed at improving water governance, protecting ecosystems and strengthening climate resilience across the Zambezi River Basin.

The project will be led by the African Development Bank Group and will focus on one of Southern Africa’s most important shared river systems.

Stretching across eight countries Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe the Zambezi River Basin plays a central role in the lives of more than 51 million people. It provides water for homes and farms, supports hydropower generation, sustains fisheries and underpins globally important ecosystems such as the Barotse Floodplain and the Zambezi Delta. In recent years, however, the basin has come under growing strain from climate variability, deforestation, pollution and weak coordination in water management. Average river flows have fallen by almost 20 percent over the past two decades, while repeated droughts and floods continue to threaten food production, energy supply and natural habitats.

The new GEF funded project will strengthen the ability of the Zambezi Watercourse Commission and its member states to manage shared water resources more effectively. A key focus will be the adoption of an integrated water energy food environment approach that supports long term planning and cooperation, in line with regional strategies and agreed water protocols. The initiative will promote better coordination across countries through shared guidelines, aligned environmental and social assessments and improved access to climate informed decision making tools, including the Zambezi Water Information System.

To respond to increasingly unpredictable river flows, the project will test more flexible dam operation and environmental flow practices designed to balance power generation, flood management and ecosystem protection. New financing approaches will also be introduced, including payments for ecosystem services and user fee systems, to help secure sustainable funding for water and environmental management.

Gareth Phillips, Climate and Environment Finance Manager at the African Development Bank said, “Working together, Zambezi riparian states are strengthening climate resilient river basin management to protect ecosystems and secure water, energy, and food for millions across Southern Africa.This project supports coordinated, climate informed, and financially sustainable river basin management that underpins ecosystems, thereby promoting Southern Africa’s development agenda.”

Women, young people and local communities will be actively involved throughout the project to ensure inclusive and locally grounded outcomes.The GEF grant is expected to unlock more than $140 million in additional funding from governments, development partners and the private sector, helping to deliver lasting environmental and development benefits across the region.