14 February 2013: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Governments of Kenya and Tanzania will establish a Joint Cooperative Framework for transboundary management of the Chala and Jipe Lakes and the Umba River ecosystems.

The MoU covers issue areas including: water supply and sanitation; integrated water resources management (IWRM); natural resources, environmental and ecosystems management; land use practices; capacity building; data and information sharing; and research and development. The MoU will be facilitated in part by the work of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), which will coordinate programme development and implementation, provide technical support and advice, and share experiences and lessons learned.

The Joint Cooperative Framework is designed help conserve the ecosystems of Chala and Jipe Lakes and Umba River, which supports fisheries, water supply, and livestock and wildlife management in Tsavo West National Park, Kenya, and Mkomazi National Park, Tanzania. Among challenges faced by these ecosystems are increased salinity, and declining fisheries and fish size, which have resulted in raising poverty levels and community migration.

The MoU was signed during the Coordination Committee session of the 11th Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria Basin, which took place from 11-14 February 2013, in Kisumu, Kenya. [LVBC Press Release]