Based on mutual interest, the Lake Nyasa Basin Water Board, Kiwira Energy Ltd., Ensol Energy, International Water Stewardship Programme, a local NGO Kikundi cha Mazingira Ileje Mashariki (KMIM) and District Councils of Ileje and Rungwe after a series of consultation meetings they decided to join forces for the partnership for sustainable hydropower development in the Kiwira Catchment.

The partnership for hydropower development in the Kiwira Catchment has is aiming to 'lay the foundations for equitable and sustainable water use for socio-economic development'. To be able to achieve that goal, activities have been grouped in 6 working areas which have been agreed collectively by partners. The first working area aims to facilitate data and information exchange and sharing between Lake Nyasa Basin stakeholders. This includes technical support to establish a geo-spatial database to be used for planning purposes; the review of existing hydro-met systems and data repositories and methodological support to establish the catchment’s hydrology. Activities under the heading of water resources planning and governance aim at establishing existing lawful (and customary) abstractions and consolidating the permitting database. Lessons learnt from a similar exercise with the Pangani Basin Water Board will be taken on board. Other highlighted activities aim to assist Lake Nyasa Basin Board to establish water allocation criteria as well as monitoring compliance. The partnership will also aim at supporting the formation of a Water Users Associations (WUAs) ensures stakeholder engagement in water resources planning and management. Under the working area of catchment conservation, a survey of the catchment condition will be conducted, identifying hotspots for immediate action, such as measures to improve the sustainability of agricultural practices. A monitoring of the catchment condition will be set up, guiding implementation and tracking progress. The fifth working area is aiming creating enabling environment for hydropower development which include different technical advice to hydropower developers, supporting stakeholder engagement process and support incorporating water stewardship principles and approaches in hydropower project conceptualisation, design, implementation and operation. The sixth working area is cross-cutting the others to facilitate partnership coordination with Lake Nyasa Basin Water Board leading the partnership and IWaSP supporting the steering and coordination of partners.

Project Results

The partnership which is been implemented in Rungwe and Ileje Districts as was seen most appropriate by partners in partnership management was further divided into two sub-partnerships:

1. UPPER-MID KIWIRA SUB-PARTNERSHIP

Kiwira Energy plans to develop two small hydropower projects in the area. The generation potential of the plants is 1.6 and 6.9MW. The inception phase will include five wards with estimated population of 34,000.

1. LUSWISI SUB-PARTNERSHIP

In Luswisi Sub-catchment, Ensol Tanzania is developing a small hydropower project, rated at 4.7MW. The inception phase will include four wards with estimate of 25,000 people.