Page 58 - CIWA-AR24

Horn of Africa

The NBI, through its regional Nile Basin implemented by partners to and analyze the agencies
Regional Hydromet initiative, has further strengthen hydrological monitoring, currently active in water-related
identified the potential to expand forecasting, and early-warning initiatives (both on WRM and
hydrometric systems to benefit South systems, ensuring synergies and water supply, sanitation, and
Sudan and other riparian countries. 34 complementarities between various hygiene) in the forced
Long-term WRM is further limited by the projects in South Sudan. displacement space. A mapping
lack of hydrological and water resource report will be produced with the
system models. A coarse-resolution flood Supporting knowledge generation and key actors’ initiatives and their
hydrology model developed by the NBI is capacity building with a focus on relative influence, which will include
currently the only available option. biodiversity and FCV: South Sudan can guidance on how to improve
be divided into three main coordination, fill gaps, and leverage
In FY24, two main activities were sub-hydrological units: (i) the Bahr el synergies among stakeholders
undertaken to strengthen regional Jebel, receiving the outflow from the East
information exchange: African lakes; (ii) the Baro-Akobo-Sobat • Assess climate risks in refugee
system, flowing along the east from hosting areas. A holistic approach
• The Climate Finance Regional Ethiopia; and (iii) the Bahr el Ghazal, will be developed to assess current
Climate Resilience Program: As part formed by streams arising along the and predict future climate risks,
of the Regional Climate Resilience Nile-Congo divide in northwestern South which will analyze three dimensions
program, a workshop was held to Sudan. The confluence of the Bahr el of risk: type of hazard, exposure,
establish a strong foundation for Ghazal and the Bahr el Jebel forms a vast and vulnerability. An inventory will be
collaboration and knowledge area of marsh and wetland (both developed for existing assets, such as
exchange to enhance resilience. Over permanent and ephemeral) known as the roads, flood embankments, WASH
70 participants attended, including Sudd Wetland. The Sudd is one of the systems and facilities, and other
representatives from RCRP countries largest wetlands in the world and assets that are vulnerable to
(Comoros, South Sudan, Madagascar, designated as a Ramsar site, which confers climate-related impacts. This
Malawi, and Mozambique), regional globally recognized importance for assessment will guide the
and continent-wide institutions (the containing representative, rare, or unique identification of targeted resilience-
ENTRO, Southern Africa wetland biodiversity. In 2020, the annual strengthening interventions in the
Development Community [SADC], economic value of the Sudd wetland refugee areas.
NELSAP, and African Union), regional ecosystem services was estimated to be
climate experts, and World Bank over US$660 million. • Identify interventions to
representatives. Representatives mitigate climate risks faced by
from the South Sudan Ministry of In FY24, discussions were facilitated refugees, internally displaced
Environment, Ministry of Finance, and between the MWRI, World Bank people, and their host
Ministry of Water attended. The environment colleagues, and communities. These will include
sessions focused on leveraging counterparts at the NBI to ensure policy and regulatory
lessons learned to inform climate alignment and collaboration. In FY25, the improvements to enable
financing, identifying concrete study will focus on Sudd wetland resilience of people who are
actions, and exploring opportunities hydrological services (including flood forcibly displaced (e.g., how to
to strengthen RCRP implementation regulation). It aims to benefit all Nile integrate people into national and
with an emphasis on climate riparian states by offering a detailed local development planning and
financing activities. understanding of how South Sudan’s in early-warning services or
ecosystems influence the basin’s hazard monitoring, promote
• National Project Development and hydrological balance, creating a freshwater greater environmental protection
Implementation Partners Meeting in biodiversity baseline, and evaluating and rehabilitation in refugee
South Sudan: This meeting focused anthropogenic pressures on ecosystems. hosting areas). The team will
on strengthening the capacities of identify targeted risk-mitigation
the National Meteorological and Next steps measures for systems and assets
Hydrological Services in developing rocurement for Component 1 is (e.g., water supply systems,
multi-hazard early-warning systems expected be completed in 2024. livelihoods systems, other critical
P
and services. Over 40 participants infrastructure including schools
attended, including representatives This activity will: and hospitals). The proposed
from the MWRI, World targeted interventions will
Meteorological Organization, World • Map current active humanitarian account for complexity and cost
Bank, Food and Agriculture and development actors in of the design and be ranked and
Organization, and others. The refugee settlements and host prioritized by location and
workshop mapped activities to be communities. This will identify implementation modalities.

53 34 https://atlas.nilebasin.org/treatise/nile-basin-regional-hydromet/