Living Lakes Network East Africa

The network was launched in January 2009 and is coordinated by Global Nature Fund and its partner organisation OSIENALA at Lake Victoria.

The mission of this regional network is to build holistic and interdisciplinary approaches that are geared towards ensuring clean and healthy living lakes, supporting man and aquatic ecosystems in a sustainable manner. To attain the above vision and mission, following specific objectives have been stipulated:

• To lobby and advocate for streamlining policy and decision making based on sound science and best available information for the sustainable management and use of East African Living Lakes resources.
• To lobby and advocate for streamlining policy and decision making based on sound science and best available information for the sustainable management and use of East African Living Lakes resources.
• To promote networks and partnerships with local, national, and international resource providers to improve infrastructural capacity, support research and share best practice.
• To enhance capacities of members and other stakeholders for sustainable management and use of East African Living Lakes resources.
• To promote and/or undertake research for stock and inventory on various issues pertaining to the sustainable use and management of the East African Living Lakes and their resources.
• To facilitate the conflict resolution process among competing users of the Living Lakes resources in East Africa.

So far, the East African Living Lakes Network has attracted NGOs and CBOs from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. Over 16 lakes have been fully analyzed  and more lakes are being studied and analyzed. The challenge however lies in building the capacity of member organizations to articulate and appreciate transboundary water management issues, sustainable natural resources utilization and ability to effectively lobby for sound policy frameworks.

During the next two years of the East African Living Lakes Network, we will focus on policy influencing, improvement in  our communication strategy, promoting innovative solutions through facilitation of good practices tied to the contentious issues affecting our living lakes in the region through trainings, exchange visits among NGOs, CBOs, private sector and schools among other key relevant players.

At the moment, the following lakes and the corresponding organisations are members of the Living Lakes Network East Africa:

Lake Bogoria - Kenya

Lake Chala - Kenya

Lake Ihema - Rwanda

Lake Jipe - Kenya, Tanzania

Lake Kanyaboli - Kenya

Lake Katwe - Uganda

Lake Kivu - Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda

Lake Kyoga - Uganda

Lake Nabugabo - Uganda

Lake Rwihinda - Burundi

Lake Tanganyika - Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Zambia

Lake Victoria - Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania

Lake Wamala - Uganda

Supporters of the network:

Sika AG and Ursula Merz Foundation

Co-ordination of the Network East Africa

OSIENALA (Friends of Lake Victoria)

Contact person: Moses Oyier

E-mail: moses@osienala.org 

Website: www.osienala.org

Global Nature Fund (GNF)

Contact person: Udo Gattenlöhner

E-mail: info@globalnature.org

Websites: www.globalnature.org; www.globalnature.org/Network-Africa