Gwen van Boven
Technical secretary
The NCEA advised on scoping and Terms of Reference (ToR) for an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) support programme of the Netherlands Embassy in Rwanda. It also included advice on scoping and ToR for the Master Plan to which the Embassy's programme will contribute.
Significant details
In 2008, in its new Water Law, the Government of Rwanda (GoR) has adopted Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) as a guiding principle. In its Multi-Annual Strategic Plan 2012 – 2015, the Netherlands Embassy in Rwanda has planned new support for the implementation of IWRM in Rwanda. The NCEA was requested to advise on the scope of an SEA for the development of this IWRM support programme.
The NCEA established a working group and conducted a site visit. It issued a draft advice and subsequently a final advice in which it advised on scoping for the SEA. It has not only advised on a scope and ToR for an SEA for the Netherlands Embassy's support programme, but also for the National Water Resources Master Plan (NWRMP) – for which SEA is required according to Rwandese legislation. In its advise, the NCEA also gives two more general recommendations:
- To develop management plans for each catchment instead of only on a national level, and to conduct SEAs for each of them;
- To wait for the NWRMP before finalizing the Embassy's programme formulation.