Scoping Advice for the Dutch IWRM Support Programme Rwanda

1. Introduction1.1 BackgroundIn 2008, in its new Water Law 1 , the Government of Rwanda (GoR) has adopted Integrated WaterResources Management (IWRM) as a guiding principle for sustainable and rational watermanagement. Since then, Rwanda has made important progress in developing its regulatory andinstitutional framework for IWRM. The Rwanda Water Resources Department (RWRD) at theRwandan National Authority for Natural Resources (RNRA) is mandated to implement IWRM inRwanda. In its Multi-Annual Strategic Plan 2 for the period 2012 – 2015, the Embassy of theKingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) in Kigali, Rwanda, has planned new support for the RWRD in theimplementation of IWRM in Rwanda.Following a Water Scan 3 in 2011 and other formal and informal fact finding instances, the EKNinitially identified three main areas for support for IWRM 4 :- Component 1: Operational water resources and assessment (WRAM) system in place(Nationwide). It will guide management of river basins and catchments (in national andregional contexts) to guarantee reliable and climate-proof supplies of water for irrigation,hydropower and drinking water.- Component 2: Increased capacity of the Water Resources Department (Nationwide). Based onan institutional assessment (including a training needs assessment), curricula and trainingcourses will be developed for specific target groups at central and district levels to enhancecapacity and knowledge on IWRM issues; target groups could come from sectoral ministries,other government organizations and civil society organizations as long as their mandate isrelevant to aspects of water resources management.- Component 3: Rehabilitation and development of catchments and irrigation (West-Rwanda).Restore the Lake Kivu 12.000 ha catchment functions through investments in waterinfrastructure, terracing, tree planting etc. Based on the Water Resources Management MasterPlan and sectorial strategic plans for energy and food security, project plans will be elaboratedfor an integrated approach to catchment management, marshland development, irrigation anddevelopment of hydropower resources.In February 2013, a new Thematic Expert on IWRM is expected to start at the EKN for a period ofat least four years. The Thematic Expert will be responsible for the management and coordinationof the EKN’s support programme to IWRM in Rwanda. In addition, the EKN will finance thedeployment of a full time technical assistant to be based at the Water Department, responsible forIWRM in Rwanda, for the same period of time.1 Law No. 62/2008 of 10/09/2008 (water resource regulations – water law)2 Multi Annual Strategic Plan 2012 – 2015, EKN Kigali, 20113The Rwanda Water Scan, August 2011, by Van ‘t Klooster, Smet and Kente on behalf of the EKN4 Derived from ToR Scoping Phase for SEA for the development of a IWRM program Rwanda, EKN, 29 Oct 20123