Human practices—deforestation, overgrazing, over-cultivation, poor water waste management are leading causes of reduced water quality and quantity in most water catchments mainly lakes, rivers, streams and swamps. Consequently, surface runoffs and soil cover losses and water retention capacities are constant happenings.
Further, water-borne diseases are the main cause of morbidity in all the countries in the region, and poor sanitation compounds health problems in both urban and rural environments.
Solution to Water Insecurity
In response, Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) approach remains one of the solutions for building water secure and climate resilient communities and economies of the Eastern Africa and Greater Horn of Africa.
Very briefly, GWPO defines IWRM as a process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximize economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems and the environment.
IWRM is being implemented in different countries in Eastern Africa and Greater Horn of Africa. GWP Eastern Africa engages policy-makers, water technocrats, civil society organizations, academia and media of the Country Water Partnerships for:
- Creating enabling environment for suitable national policies, strategies, legislations and action plans aimed at sustainable water resources development and management;
- Setting up the national institutional frameworks through which to put into practice the policies, strategies and legislation, and
- Setting up the management and governance instruments required by these institutions at national and community levels.