Regional agencies tasked with safeguarding Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika have formalized a five-year cooperation pact to address mounting environmental threats.
The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) and the Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) in Kigoma, Tanzania, to strengthen collaboration on climate change adaptation, environmental protection and sustainable resource management across the two major East and Southern African freshwater basins.
Backed by the EAC4Nature project with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ, the pact comes amid rising pressures from climate variability, rapid population growth and expanding economic activity that impact water quality, biodiversity and community livelihoods.
Under the agreement, LVBC and LTA will align efforts on integrated water resources management, carrying out joint water assessments, strengthening monitoring systems, and shaping policies that curb overuse and pollution.
Environmental protection is central to the pact. Both bodies will roll out joint initiatives aimed at controlling pollution, managing invasive species, and restoring degraded habitats to protect fragile aquatic ecosystems.
Climate resilience strategies also feature prominently. The institutions pledge to advance climate research, promote renewable energy use, and support sustainable land management practices that safeguard ecosystems and bolster community adaptability to climate impacts.
Capacity building and knowledge sharing will be enhanced through joint training programmes, technical exchanges and regional workshops to boost the skills of professionals working across the lake basins.
The MoC further promotes community engagement and socio-economic development, supporting livelihood initiatives that improve local incomes while enhancing cross-border cooperation among communities dependent on the lakes for water, fishing, transport and trade.
Disaster risk reduction actions are prioritized under the pact, including better early warning systems and coordinated responses to floods, droughts and other climate-related shocks. The agreement also strengthens maritime safety and security by promoting pollution controls for lake shipping operations.
A Joint Implementation Committee with representatives from each institution will oversee execution, coordinate work plans and budgets, and track progress through annual reports and biennial evaluations. The pact may be renewed by mutual consent at the end of the five years.
Both LVBC Executive Secretary Dr. Masinde Bwire and LTA Executive Director Sylvain Tusanga Mukanga emphasized the urgent need for shared, coordinated action to protect these vital freshwater resources and strengthen climate resilience across the region.
