Country Survey on Water Sector Coordination

Mozambique

Country survey on water sector coordination

Overview assessment and in-depth dialogue

Introduction

Water sector in Mozambique

Water resources and use

Water resources

Water use

Water management, policies and legislation

Institutions

Water management

Policies and legislation

National Water Policy

National Water Management Strategy

Rural Water and Sanitation Strategic Plan

Donor community in Mozambique

Bilateral and Multilateral donors

Donor community involved in the water sector

The United Nations in Mozambique

UN agencies involved in the water sector

UNDP

FAO

IFAD

UNICEF

UNEP

UNESCO

World Bank

Mozambique Country Water Resources Assistance Strategy

Country Partnership Strategy

WHO

UN-Habitat

MDG 7 and Water in Mozambique

Ensure environmental sustainability in Mozambique

'One-UN' pilot initiative

Joint coordination mechanisms in the water sector

Country mechanisms and joint programmes/strategies (Water-centred)

GAS

WASH Emergency Cluster

SWAP

WSP

PASR

Other country mechanisms and joint programmes/strategies (with water components)

PROAGRI

PARPA

UNDAF

NAPA

International Coordination mechanisms

African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW)

Findings from country visit in Mozambique

Objectives of the visit

Approach adopted during the mission

Remarks on coordination mechanisms, a perspective from country actors

Performance of the coordination mechanisms

Gaps and overlapping

The role of UN-Water in Mozambique

Way forward

Annex 1 - National Water Policy

Annex 2 - National Water Management Strategy

Annex 3 - Rural Water and Sanitation Strategic Plan

Annex 4 - Mozambique Country Donor Atlas (2007-2010)

Annex 5 - Mozambique Country Water Resources Assistance Strategy

Annex 6 - Mozambique Country Partnership Strategy

Annex 7 - ONE-UN Mozambique

Annex 8 - GAS ToR

Annex 9 - Code of Conduct - Rural Water SWAP

Annex 10 - MoU for PASR Common Fund

Annex 11 - Joint Programme Adaptation to Climate Change

Annex 12 – PARPA

Annex 13 -United Nations Development Assistance Framework - 2007-2009

Introduction

This survey report has been prepared combining a desktop overview assessment report and the fact findings from a country visit which was held on January 2009.

The objective of this report was to undertake a comprehensive survey of the water sector in the country. Specifically, the survey aims at describing how the sector is coordinated among the different development actors (UN agencies, Donors and others) in support to the Government. This assessment is also to allow identifying constraints, opportunities, gaps, good examples and weaknesses in stakeholders’ coordination.

The country visit has allowed to establish a more in-depth dialogue with the principal actors in the sector as well as to solicit their views on how the sector coordination could be improved and how UN-Water could play a role in promoting this process.

A number of key documents in relation to the Water sector coordination are included in this report.

Water sector in Mozambique

Water resources and use

Water resources

Mozambique has 104 identified river basins that drain the central African highland plateau into the Indian Ocean. The majority of the rivers have a highly seasonal, torrential flow regime, with high waters during 3-4 months and low flows for the remainder of the year, corresponding to the distinct wet and dry seasons.

Groundwater potential is considerable and lies in the alluvial formations of the various rivers. Well yields in the Zambezi and Incomati basins are up to 70000 m3/day.

In Mozambique, 97.3 km3 of surface water and 17 km3 of groundwater are produced annually. Considering an overlap between surface water and groundwater of 14 km3/yr, the total internal renewable water resources are 100.3 km3/yr. In addition, 116.8 km3 of surface water enter the country annually, of which 66 percent from the ZambeziRiver and thus total actual renewable water resources become 217.1 km3/yr.

The two main lakes are LakeNiassa (Lake Malawi) and LakeChirua (LakeChilwa), both of which are shared with Malawi. The total surface area of LakeNiassa is 30800 km2, of which 21 percent belong to Mozambique. LakeChirua has an average total area of 750 km2 of which no more than 29 km2 are within Mozambique. In addition to the two main lakes, there are more than 1300 small lakes, 20 of which have an area of between 10 and 100 km2.

The total capacity of 27 dams with a height of 10 m or more is estimated at 64.5 km3. This refers mostly to the useful reservoir capacity. The Cahora Bassa dam on the ZambeziRiver is the largest hydroelectric plant in southern Africa with an installed capacity of 2060 MW and a useful storage capacity of 39.2 km3. In 1971, 583 small dams (of which 90 percent were for irrigation or livestock watering) were registered, with a total volume of 60 million m3. It is believed that most of them were destroyed during the war.

Water use

Water use estimates for the year 2000 indicate a total water withdrawal of 635 million m3. The main consumer of water is agriculture, accounting for 550 million m3 (87 percent), followed by the domestic sector using 70 million m3 (11 percent) and industry consuming 15 million m3 (2 percent).

The main source of water in Mozambique is surface water. However, groundwater is utilized on a large scale in a number of urban centres for drinking water supply. Handpump-mounted boreholes and shallow wells are used throughout the country as the main source of drinking water in rural areas.

Water management, policies and legislation

Institutions

The National Directorate for Agricultural Hydraulics (DNHA) within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER) is the coordinating authority for activities relating to irrigation and drainage. It performs studies, executes agricultural hydraulics projects and supports smallholder irrigation development. Inside the DNHA, the Programa nacional de irrigacao de pequena escala (PRONIPE) was specifically created for small-scale irrigation.

The Fund for Agricultural Hydraulics Development (FDHA) is in charge of promoting, fostering and funding the hydro-agricultural works or other activities related to irrigated agricultural development.

The National Water Directorate (DNA) within the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (MOPH) is in charge of policy making and implementation, overall planning and management of the country’s water resources and the provision of water supply and sanitation services. Its objectives are to ensure the proper utilization of ground- and surface water resources. In the DNA, a liaison office of international rivers was established. The Regional Water Administrations (ARAs) are basin authorities responsible for water development and management. They have administrative, organizational and financial autonomy but report to the DNA. The ARAs are also in charge of collecting hydrological information. DNA is organized in different Departments dealing with specific water-related issues: Rural Water (DAR), Urban Water (DAU), Sanitation (DAS), Water Resources Management (DGRH), Planning (GCP), etc.

The National Water Council (CNA) was created in 1991 as a consultative body to the Council of Ministers. In general, however, the CNA has not been very effective and coordination between agencies involved in water resources management has been a constant source of concern.

Figure shows the institutional structure of the Water sector in Mozambique. Agricultural water related issues are dealt in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER).

Water management

At the national level, water management is the responsibility of the National Water Directorate (DNA), while at the regional level the five Regional Water Administrations (ARAs) are responsible. They control the irrigation systems and collect water fees. The only ARA fully operational by 2000 was ARA-Sul (South), while a second one, ARA-Centro, is under formation. ARA-Sul is in charge of the southern part of the country up to the SaveRiver, where most problems of water management exist. In areas not yet covered by an ARA, the Provincial Directorates of Public Works and Housing are the authority responsible for water resources management in the province.

The territorial responsibility of the five ARAs is as follows:

• ARA South, which includes all the basins south of the Save, and the SaveRiver basin itself.
• ARA Centre, which covers all the basins between the Save and Zambezi basins.
• ARA Zambezi, which corresponds to the Zambezi basin.
• ARA Centre-North, which covers the Zambezi basin as far as the LurioRiver, including the Lurio basin.
• ARA North, which covers all the basins north of the Lurio basin.

Figure 1: Water sector structure

Policies and legislation

The 1991 Water Law is based on a river basin approach towards water management. According to this law, water and hydraulic structures of public interest are State property. By law, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing is responsible for water management. Furthermore, the social, economic and environmental impact of hydraulic works has to be assessed before their implementation.

National Water Policy

The National Water Policy was issued in 1995, listing nine principal policies with the main aim being to guarantee the attainment of a sustainable water supply and sanitation. It is a comprehensive policy strategy that encompasses all water-related aspects from supply and sanitation, IWRM, efficiency use, disaster mitigation and environment. The Policy has the aim to achieve the following medium (2015) and long-term (2025) objectives:

• Halve the population without access to drinkable water by 2015
• Improve sanitation services as essential basis to prevent water-borne diseases, for enhancing livelihoods and environment conservation
• Improve water efficiency for economic development
• Improve water use for environment conservation
• Reduce vulnerability to droughts and floods
• Promote conflict resolution and regional integration through IWRM

The National Water Policy full document is available in annex 1.

National Water Management Strategy

The main objective of the National Water Management Strategy is the effective implementation of the National Water Policy.

The Strategy encompasses all aspects of water resources, including surface water and groundwater, water quality and ecosystems protection, IWRM, legal, institutional and regulatory framework, transboundary river basin management, disaster assessment and management, capacity development.

The Strategy was launched in 2007. An inter-sectoral, multidisciplinary Working Group (GTA) was established by the National Water Council for coordination and supervisions of the strategy implementation. The GTA is composed by technical officers from different ministries, NGOs, water users associations, academic institutions and private sector.

The National Water Management Strategy full document is available in annex 2.

Rural Water and Sanitation Strategic Plan

Under the DNA responsibility, the Rural Water and Sanitation Strategic Plan (2006-2015) was launched in 2007 with the following objectives:

• Improve quality and national coverage of rural water supply and sanitation services
• Promote Rural Sanitation into the National Agenda
• Broaden the range of technology options and institutional management models
• Promote decentralization of institutional responsibilities

The Rural Water and Sanitation Strategic Plan full document is available in annex 3.

Donor community in Mozambique

Bilateral and Multilateral donors

•African Development Bank (AfDB)

•Austria

•Belgium

•Canada

•Denmark

•European Commission (EC)

•Finland

•Flanders

•France

•Germany

•Ireland

•Italy

•Japan

•Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)

•Netherlands

•Norway

•Portugal

•Spain

•Sweden

•Switzerland

•United Kingdom (UK)

•USA (USAID)

•FAO

•GLOBALFUND

Donor community involved in the water sector

Adetailed overview of the Donor assistance forecast 2007-2010 is reported in annex 4.

The United Nations in Mozambique

The UN country team works to support national development efforts, respond to emergencies and ensure peace and security.

The UN system in Mozambique supports the Government through a formalized UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), a plan that outlines the activities and modalities by which the UN assists in the achievement of development goals prioritized by the Government. As detailed in the current UNDAF (2007-2009), the UN is expediting the implementation of the UN Reforms, a variety Joint Programming modalities and the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.

The UN is a multi-sectoral organization. By relying on the strengths of the agencies, the UN is equipped to deliver high quality services in a wide variety of areas. This multi-sectoral approach allows for the UN to provide both upstream and downstream services as well as operating on an emergency or on a long-term basis.

The UN system action in Mozambique encompasses different spheres:

•Advocacy for UN core values, including human rights, gender equality, human security and the Millennium Development Goals.

•Normative and technical advisory services, setting standards and ensuring quality control, in addition to providing technical advice according to the agencies´ respective mandates.

•Strengthening of national capacity at both central and decentralised levels, particularly strengthening Government capacity to deliver the additional resources channelled from DBS through the State Budget.

•Support to national scale-up of evidence-based programmes.

•Implementation Services. The UN can be sub-contracted to implement services on behalf of the Government, as seen in other regions, such as Latin America.

•Support to national humanitarian response in sudden onset emergencies.

•Bringing the voice of civil society to the table. The UN can play a strategic role in ensuring that the voice of civil society is heard. In so doing, it would also ensure that provinces, districts and communities are given similar opportunities and access to make their voices heard and to influence central government policy.

•Building partnerships between all stakeholders. Given its impartiality, the UN is an ideal mediator and facilitator to foster partnerships.

The UNDAF 2007-2009 was developed on the basis of these areas of comparative advantages.

The United Nations in Mozambique is composed of a team of Agencies, Funds and Programmes, under the leadership and coordination of the UN Resident Coordinator. The team works together to more effectively respond to national development and humanitarian challenges of Mozambique.

Here is the list of UN bodies:

UN agencies involved in the water sector

UNDP

UNDP is involved in the water sector in Mozambique, more specifically in the water management area. One of the focus are of UNDP is Energy and environment for sustainable development area and deals directly with MDG 7 issues. The following initiatives deal directly or indirectly with sector water-related issues:

•GEF funded Small Grants Programme (SGP)

SGP aims to deliver global environmental benefits in the GEF Focal Areas of biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, protection of international waters, prevention of land degradation (primarily desertification and deforestation), and elimination of persistent organic pollutants through community-based approaches. SGP embodies the very essence of sustainable development by providing financial and technical support directly to NGOs and CBOs in developing countries for activities that conserve and restore the environment while enhancing people's well-being and livelihoods of local communities. It demonstrates that community action can maintain the fine balance between human needs and environmental imperatives.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as a corporate programme, SGP is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the GEF partnership, and is executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

•Strengthening Local Risk Management and Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction

The overall goal of the Programme is to strengthen national capacities at all level to reduce the risk of disasters and mitigate their impacts on the vulnerable populations in the country. Considering the current flood situation, it will also strengthen the early recovery process and provide some technical assistance to develop an appropriate and timely recovery plan.

FAO

FAO has a long-standing history in Mozambique responding to aspects developed at global, regional and national levels. Its National Medium Term Priority Framework 2008-2012 is a poverty reduction and food security oriented package of integrated projects and programme-based activities that can be set within two broad groups: Supporting the mainstreaming of global goals and principles into national policies and programmes (PARPA.), and other normative activities; Responding to the specific needs of the country (national programmes and activities to implement them) with a focus on capacity building and introducing, testing and piloting new approaches.

Based on the global FAO mandate and the food security needs of Mozambique, FAO in Mozambique different projects in operation, providing technical assistance in the Water Management area. Through the Irrigation programme there are different initiatives on-going and in pipeline:

Current initiatives:

•Rehabilitation of small scale irrigation schemes

•Improvement of water scheme management

•Improvement of water harvesting and management in framework of Special Programme for Food Security