01-15
National Water Resources Management Authority for A Sustainable Water Use in Rwanda
Authors: Aboniyo, Josiane, Umulisa, Diane, Bizimana, Anthere, Kwisanga, Jean Marie Pascal, & Mourad, Khaldoon
Number of views: 259
The rapid population growth increases water demand and affects water allocation systems as well as water
resources management plans to satisfy the basic water needs for both human and nature. This has called upon the
adoption of the integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach which promotes the coordination and
management of water, land and related resources to maximize the economic and social welfare in an equitable
manner without compromising the ecosystem. Water management and the implementation of IWRM approach
cannot be achieved without proper working institutions that can coordinate and manage the implementation
strategies. The aim of this paper is to establish a national water resources management authority in Rwanda that
will manage and coordinate the national water resources in a sustainable way taking the water resources
management bodies in Rwanda, in comparison with the Kenyan water resources management bodies as a good
example. An extensive review was conducted using governmental documents, and key institutional elements were
analyzed by evaluating their performance in comparing with the Kenyan institutions. The paper revealed that
Rwandan water resources management is a fragmented way and the level of control is sophisticated without taking
into consideration the management of water resources at a catchment level, which affects the coordination,
management and the implementation of water policies. The results show that most of the water laws and policies
in Rwanda should be changed and establish the Rwandan water resources management Authority that has the
power to control and coordinate the water resources implementation policies.