Abyan Water Basin Committee established by cabinet decree

What was the gtz-IWRM role in it?
The participatory water resources management approach was introduced as an essential element of gtz German Technical Cooperation to Yemen’s Water Sector's Institutional sector Development. Therefore, component 4 "Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)" of the gtz German Water Sector Program as a joint counterpart of NWRA (National Water Resources Authority) launched intensive technical and advisory support to NWRA regional branches particularly in Abyan and Amran Basins. The aim was to create a fertile ground for sustainable basin-based integrated and participatory water resources management as stipulated in the water law.

What was/is the gtz-IWRM doing?
During 2007, in accordance with our BMZ (German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) commission, the IWRM in close cooperation with Aden NWRA branch has reached considerable achievements with regard to the establishment of the Abyan Water Basin Committee and Abyan NWRA management unit. Since July 2007, NWRA Aden branch has constituted a preparatory team parallel with the establishment of a local (Abyan) preparatory team with the purpose to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of scheduled activities that have been focused on mobilization of local councils, local authorities, NGOs and local community representatives as well as water users and other stakeholders. Series of meetings, workshops and awareness activities have been implemented to acquire adequate consciousness for partnership concepts that support building improved perception and constructive attitude concerning water participatory management. Among other activities, implementation of three main workshops had taken place in which a variety of concerned topics have been presented by professionals from the NWRA Aden branch, Abyan Irrigation Department , Local Water Supply and Sanitation Corporation and local community representatives along with papers from Al-Kod Research and Extension Center and IWRM. Main issues were the current situation of water resources, the participatory role of the basin committee, its equitable composition that represents local community spectrum including women, NWRA tasks, information exchange and coordination between the concerned bodies.

What has been achieved so far?
During the year 2007 the draft Water Resources Management Plan for Tuban-Abyan delta was presented at NWRA-HQ, the final approval is pending.
Nevertheless immense and harmonized efforts of honest cooperation between local authorities, NWRA branch, preparatory teams and gtz-IWRM have resulted in a wide range of agreement on the establishment of basin committee tasks and compositions that were finally reflected in a draft Cabinet Resolution. The Governor as the head of the local council has approved the draft resolution and the NWRA-Chairman submitted it to the Minister of the MWE (Ministry of Water and Environment) to be issued by the Cabinet in accordance with the Water Law. The draft resolution was handed over to the cabinet and was passed as a cabinet decree on March 11th. Already eleven days later on March 22nd “World Water Day” the Assembly of the Water Basin Committee came together for its first constitutional meeting in which the following aspects were discussed:

• The text of the cabinet decree No. 80 of 2008 for establishing Abyan Water Basin Committee and their terms of reference were presented to the Abyan Water Basin Committee members.

• The future roles of the NWRA Abyan unit were presented by the NWRA unit manager.

• The draft working procedures of the committee work was presented for their review and comments

• It was agreed on establishing the three below listed sub committees:
  - Water and irrigation management subcommittee.
  - Awareness and education subcommittee
  - Coordination and follow-up subcommittee.
   

And now?
No doubt gtz-IWRM will support the Water Basin Committee in the following month to set up a plan of procedures and tasks to fulfill its difficult duty.


April 2008

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