The workshop brought together 35 participants drawn from development partners, ministries of water and environment, ministries of national planning and finance, country water partnerships of the two countries, representatives of central and local non-governments, women and youth representatives, District planners, and staff of GWP Eastern Africa Secretariat.

The GWPEA Regional Coordinator, in his welcome remarks, Safari Patrick, briefed the participants that the workshop is “aiming at bringing together key project stakeholders and partner institutions to have a common understanding of WACDEP programme and discuss the activities proposed for the implementation and build ownership of stakeholders to ensure the project sustainability.”

He further emphasized that the workshop seeks to draw consensus on the project, exchange knowledge and information amongst various stakeholders from the two countries on the status of climate change and water security in Bugesera catchment part of Kagera River Basin.

Workshop participants shared perspectives on challenges, best practices in the water sector and drew recommendations to inform further actions.

Recommendations drawn included but limited to strengthening documentation of best practices, sharing of information and knowledge on climate change impacts and measures for resilience amongst various stakeholders in the two countries.

It was also recommended that the participants contribute towards harmonizing polices, laws and enforcement mechanisms related to climate change adaptation and water security in Burundi and Rwanda.

The workshop was in line with delivering GWP 2009-2013 strategic goals and realizing the overall objective of Water and Climate Development Program (WACDEP) to support integration of water security and climate resilience in development planning and decision making processes through enhanced technical and institutional capacity, and predictable financing and investments in water security and climate change adaptation.