Technical Cooperation Visit
Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM)
and the
Agência Nacional de Águas (ANA) of Brazil
4-11 May 2008
This technical cooperation mission between the Okavango River Basin Water Commission and
the National Water Agency of Brazil was organized by the Environmental Protection and
Sustainable Management of the Okavango Project1.
The mission was co-funded by ANA, the IW Learn Project, the FAO executed EPSMO project,
UNDP and by OKACOM.
The Agência Nacional de Águas hosted the OKACOM delegation, organized a full repertoire of
activities and presentations, accompanied the delegation on a number of extremely well
selected site visits and ensured the highest level of representation from within ANA and civil
society and government sectors.
From the onset this mission was organized with clear and targeted objectives. The main
objective of the mission was to share knowledge on the execution of GEF Funded River Basin
management projects. The ANA has extensive institutional experience executing basin
management projects in a variety of situations. OKACOM on the other hand is in the process of
implementing a comprehensive basin-wide project to develop a Trans-boundary Diagnostic
Analysis and a Strategic Action Plan for the Okavango Basin. Furthermore, considering the
Lusophone heritage shared between Angola (the upper Okavango riparian country) and Brazil
this exchange presented opportunities to develop capacity and explore mutually beneficial
training programs.
Furthermore, the Pantanal and the Upper Paraguay River Basin in Brazil has strikingly similar
ecosystem characteristics to the Okavango system. But whereas in Brazil this river system is
already under pressure from development activities, such pressures are only anticipated in the
Okavango River Basin. ANA is currently in the process of developing a management system
for Upper Paraguay River Basin thus providing a valuable learning opportunity for OKACOM.
The quality and relevancy of discussions and the high-level and involved participation by ANA
especially marked this exchange visit.
Specifically, the exchange visit focused on the following:
1. common challenges currently facing ANA and likely to be faced by OKACOM in the
management of the Okavango River Basin;
2. ANA case studies on the role of the TDA in understanding such challenges and in the
development of solutions;
3. ANA case studies on SAP initiatives that can address these challenges and maintain the
integrity of the river system;
4. a comparison of the dynamics of community and stakeholder participation in river basin
management;
5. the role of the different actors in GEF International Waters Projects vis á vis
Implementing Agency, Executing Agency, state actors, community organizations etc.,
6. project management in the context of river basin management, and,
7. a comparison on the role a flood dynamics on the preservation of the river biodiversity
1 The Environment Protection and Sustainable Management of the Okavango River Basin Project is a joint initiative of the Governments of
Angola, Botswana and Namibia represented by the Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM) in partnership with the Global
Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the
United Nations. This project is funded by the three governments and by a grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Results
The outcomes of the exchange are summarised below
1. the presentations made by ANA staff members on past and ongoing GEF projects
provided the OKACOM delegation with clear understanding of the process and purpose
of such projects. This will enable them to execute the Okavango project towards clear
and defined goals,
2. likewise the presentations provided a clear understanding of the challenges faced by
such projects ranging from the integration of multiple consultant reports to strategies for
public participation,
3. the Brazilian institutional arrangements and the devolution of management
responsibility to local levels informed possibilities for institutional reform among the
three Okavango member countries,
4. a presentation on the role of ANA in the management of water resources in Brazil
helped develop the role for OKACOM in its transformation from a Commission to a
fully fledged River Basin Organization,
5. considering the near pristine status of the Okavango River Basin, the OKACOM
delegation is now able to better appreciate the urgency to act and of the consequences of
inaction. For an example ANA is now faced with the daunting task of reducing
sediment and pollution inflow to the Pantanal. This requires negotiating with vested
interests and involves an economic trade-off. Wise planning now can prevent a similar
future in the Okavango.
6. OKACOM and ANA's experience in community participation in the execution of GEF
projects in particular and in general river basin management resulted in a discussion that
can lead to the development of better community participation strategies by both
organizations,
7. a comparison and an increased understanding of the comparative advantage of and the
role of research centres (i.e. the Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre and the
Pantanal branch of the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agro-Pecuária) in the
management of river basins,
8. a comparison and an increased understanding of the comparative advantage of and the
role of regional bodies (i.e. the Organization of American States and the Southern
African Development Community) in the management of river basins.
Anticipated Follow-up Activities
This exchange visit was the first step towards a program of collaboration between ANA and
OKACOM. The primary responsibility towards the continuation of this program lies with the
OKACOM Secretariat.
Some of the possible collaborative activities include;
· Participation Angola National Directorate of Water staff in ANA training activities,
especially in hydrology.
· Cooperation between the Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre (HOORC)
and Pantanal branch of EMBRAPA (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agro-Pecuária).
· Cooperation between EMBRAPA and Angolan research institutions
Program of Activities
03 May 2008: Arrival in Brasilia via São Paulo (for those members from Botswana and
Namibia) and via Rio de Janeiro (for those members from Angola)
05 May 2008: Presentation at ANA, Agência Nacional de Águas
Dr. José Machado, ANA´s President of the Board of Director, welcomed the OKACOM
delegation to Brazil, Mr. Manuel Quintino, the National Coordinator for ANGOLA and staff
member of the EPSMO PMU, made a presentation of the EPSMO activities in the Okavango
River Basin.
After Mr. Quintino´s presentation, officials from ANA made presentations on the following
projects:
· ANAs role in the governance and management of Hydrological resources in Brazil - Sr.
Paulo Verella
· Pubic Participation in the Management of Hydrological resources in Brazil - Sr. Wilde
Gontijo
· GEF São Francisco Sr. José Luiz de Souza
· GEF Amazonas Sr. Humberto Gonçalves
In both presentations were stress the importance of TDA and SAP for the sound management
on international rivers.
Topics like de-pollution of river basins and constitution of River Basin Committees were
discussed as well.
The presentation resulted in a lively discussion that further involved a representative from
UNESCO.
06 May 2008: Presentation at the ANA (continuation)
The second day included a tour of the ANA facilities and the following presentations and
discussions:
· GEF Pantanal project - Sr. Humberto Gonçalves.
· Role of the OAS, Organization of American States in GEF projects Sr. Nelson da
Franca.
On the afternoon of 06 May 2008, the OKACOM delegation travelled to the city of Campo
Grande, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul.
07 May 2008: Presentations at UCDB, Universidade Central Dom Bosco (Dom Bosco Central
University)
After the welcome ceremony, Mr. Carlos Andrade of OBSC-Angola, made a presentation on
OKACOM structures and its current activities. Afterwards, Mr. Manuel Quintino, the National
Project Coordinator for Angola and staff member of EPSMO PMU made a presentation on
EPSMO project.
After these presentations, the OKACOM delegation was presented on the following projects:
· Project "Iscas Vivas"(living baits) by the local NGO "ECOA". ECOA works with a
community of fishermen in Porto da Manga, in Pantanal area;
· River Tacuarí project. This project was presented by Dr. Filipe Dias, the head of GIS
department at the UCDB;
· Integrated Management of River Basins. This project was presented by a representative
of CIDEMA, Consórcio dos Municípios dos Miranda e Apá (the Consortium of
Municipalities of the Rivers Miranda and Apá);
· Project on Continuous Environmental Education on Miranda and Apá River Basins.
This project was presented by a representative of a local NGO "MUPAN" (Mulheres em
Acção no Pantanal). MUPAN is a NGO actively working with women living in
Pantanal area.
08 May 2008: Travel from Campo Grande to Corumbá
On the way to Corumbá, the OKACOM delegation had the opportunity to pass by Porto da
Manga, and visit the results of activities carried out by local fishermen under the mentorship of
ECOA.
09 May 2008: Visit to EMBRAPA Pantanal
The OKACOM delegation visited the Pantanal branch of EMBRAPA. EMBRAPA is the
Brazilian enterprise in charge of Agriculture Research (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agro-
Pecuária).
Dr. Emiko, the Chief Researcher of Embrapa Pantanal, made a presentation on EMBRAPA´s
Pantanal involvement on the Upper Paraguay River Basin
In the afternoon of this day the OKACOM delegation travelled back to Campo Grande.
10 May 2008: Travel to São Paulo (for members of Botswana and Namibia) and to Rio de
Janeiro (for members of Angola)
11 May 2008: Trip back home
Members of the OKACOM delegation
ANGOLA -
Mr. Carlos Manuel Andrade
- Mr. Paulo Emilio Mendes
- Mr. Joaquim Pinto Tavares
BOTSWANA
- Ms. Portia Segomelo
- Mr. Kalaote Kalaote
- Ms. Tracy Molefi
NAMIBIA - Ms. Laura Namene
UNDP Angola
- Ms. Gabriela Nascimento
EPSMO PMU
- Mr. Chaminda Rajapakse
- Mr. Manuel Quintino