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National workshop related to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes: Zambia’s accession process

National workshop related to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes: Zambia’s accession process

Environmental Policy
26 - 27 May 2022
Lusaka Zambia
Zambia Workshop

With a view to possible accession, a national workshop was jointly convened by the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation of Zambia and the Secretariat of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) serviced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on 26 and 27 May in Lusaka, Zambia to raise broader awareness of the Convention and develop a road map for accession. 

The general objective of the workshop was to inform stakeholders about the Water Convention, to share about the processes initiated by Government of Zambia to become party to the Water Convention and to discuss the next steps in the accession process. 

Specifically, the workshop enabled participants to: 

  • Inform stakeholders about the Water Convention; 
  • Identify the benefits, possible advantages and strategic objectives of a possible accession to the Convention for Zambia; 
  • Inform about the accession process, benefits and implementation by new African Parties; 
  • Discuss the practical implementation of the Water Convention to meet the challenges of water resource management in Zambia, based on the experience of existing Parties; 
  • Present the initiatives started by the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection as part of Zambia's accession process to the Water Convention; 
  • Arrange a Question and Answer session on frequently asked questions from stakeholders about the Water Convention; 
  • Discuss the next steps and road map in the accession process and the contribution of this process to Zambia's transboundary and national water management. 

Results

The results achieved through this workshop are: 

  • Stakeholders were informed about the cooperation framework of the Water Convention at the global level and discussed the future engagement of Zambia with the Convention’s Programme of Work 2022-24; 
  • The advantages for States to become party to the Water Convention were presented; 
  • Updates on the efforts initiated for Zambia’s accession to the Convention were presented; 
  • The actors were informed on the next steps of the accession process and the contribution of this process to Zambia's national water management and transboundary water cooperation were discussed; 
  • Actors defined a roadmap, with key milestones agreed, for accession to the Water Convention. 

The workshop funded by the European Union through the project "Promoting accession to the Water Convention" which aims to support the accession and implementation of the Water Convention and thus to strengthen cooperation cross-border water and the sustainable and peaceful management of shared water resources.

Link to Press release: https://unece.org/environment/news/zambia-accelerates-progress-water-convention-accession-and-shared-river-agreements

Concept Note

27655 _ Concept Note _ 368246 _ English _ 773 _ 355803 _ pdf

Agenda

27656 _ Agenda _ 368247 _ English _ 773 _ 355804 _ pdf

Presentations-Opening remarks

28791 _ Welcome Remarks, Mr. Joe Kalusa, Permanent Secretary, MWDS, Zambia _ 368276 _ English _ 773 _ 355892 _ pdf
28791 _ Ms. Sonja Koeppel, Secretary of the Water Convention _ 368277 _ English _ 773 _ 355893 _ pdf
28791 _ Mr. Harry Liiv, Chair of the Bureau of the Water _ 368278 _ English _ 773 _ 355894 _ pdf
28791 _ Mr. Lionel Laurens, UNDP Resident Representative _ 368351 _ English _ 773 _ 356048 _ pdf
28791 _ H.E. Hon. Elton Mike Mposha (MP), Minister of Water Development and Sanitation _ 368279 _ English _ 773 _ 355895 _ pdf

Session 1

Overview of the 1992 Water Convention and 1997 Watercourses Convention

28810 _ Why 2 UN global Water Conventions? Key provisions, similarities, differences & complementarities of both global legal frameworks for consideration by Zambia, Mr. Remy Kinna, Legal Officer, Water Convention Secretariat _ 368280 _ English _ 773 _ 355896 _ pdf

Overview of the 1992 Water Convention and 1997 Watercourses Convention

28810 _ The institutional framework supporting the 1992 Water Convention, its Programme of Work and implementation on the ground, Ms. Sonja Koeppel, Secretary to the Water Convention _ 368281 _ English _ 773 _ 355897 _ pdf

Overview of the 1992 Water Convention and 1997 Watercourses Convention

28810 _ Activities and experience from Estonia, Mr. Harry Liiv, Chair of the Bureau of the Water Convention _ 368282 _ English _ 773 _ 355898 _ pdf

Session 2 - ZAMBIA’S WATER CONTEXT: NATIONAL & TRANSBOUNDARY

Zambia’s national/regional transboundary water management contexts, agreements, institutions: Water Convention’s relevance for the country’s shared water resources

28811 _ Zambia’s transboundary cooperation agreements, institutions and activities and their alignment with the Water Convention: The ZRA, ZAMCOM, LTA, Mrs. Flora Simumba, Acting Director, DWRD, MWDS, Zambia _ 368283 _ English _ 773 _ 355899 _ pdf

Zambia’s national/regional transboundary water management contexts, agreements, institutions: Water Convention’s relevance for the country’s shared water resources

28811 _ Relationship between the Convention and Transboundary Basin Governance Arrangements: The ZAMCOM Agreement, Benefits assessments on cooperation briefs and activities, Mr. Felix Ngamlagosi, Executive Secretary, Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) _ 368284 _ English _ 773 _ 355900 _ pdf

Zambia’s national/regional transboundary water management contexts, agreements, institutions: Water Convention’s relevance for the country’s shared water resources

28811 _ Relationship between the Convention and Regional Agreements: the relationship between the SADC Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses and the UN Global Water Conventions, Prof. Imasiku Nyambe, University of Zambia _ 368285 _ English _ 773 _ 355901 _ pdf

Zambia’s national/regional transboundary water management contexts, agreements, institutions: Water Convention’s relevance for the country’s shared water resources

28811 _ Water Diplomacy in Transboundary Water Resources Management, Ms. Ann Malata-Ononuju, Director Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education _ 368286 _ English _ 773 _ 355902 _ pdf

Zambia’s national/regional transboundary water management contexts, agreements, institutions: Water Convention’s relevance for the country’s shared water resources

28811 _ Benefits of cooperative arrangements in supporting water sector, Dr. Charles Shindaile, AWARE GIZ Zambia & Dr. Ngosa Howard Mpamba, Assistant Director International Water Section, DWRD, MWDS, Zambia _ 368287 _ English _ 773 _ 355903 _ pdf

Session 3 - CONVENTION PERSPECTIVES (COUNTRY & REGIONAL) & PRACTICAL APPLICATION

The UN global water conventions: Presentations on value add and lessons learnt

28812 _ Activities and experience from the perspective of Hungary, Mr. Peter Kovacs, Water Director, Hungary, Member of the Bureau to the Water Convention _ 368288 _ English _ 773 _ 355904 _ pdf

The UN global water conventions: Presentations on value add and lessons learnt

28812 _ The experience of Senegal: context of accession to UN global water conventions, the value add for Zambia, and developing a road map to accede to the Water Convention, Mr. Amary Ngoné Sembène, Legal Unit Coordinator, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Seneg _ 368289 _ French _ 780 _ 355905 _ pdf

The UN global water conventions: Presentations on value add and lessons learnt

28812 _ Relationship between the Convention and Transboundary Basin Governance Arrangements: The CICOS Agreement, practical engagement, meetings and activities, Ms. Judith Enaw, Executive Secretary, CICOS _ 368290 _ English _ 773 _ 355906 _ pdf

Session 5 - DEVELOPING THE ROAD MAP TO ACCESSION

Developing Zambia’s integrated road map to accession

28813 _ Basic common steps in the accession process summarized from previous experiences, as outlined in the Convention FAQs publication, Mr. Peter Kovacs, Water Director, Hungary, Member of the Bureau to the Water Convention _ 368292 _ English _ 773 _ 355908 _ pdf

Developing Zambia’s integrated road map to accession

28813 _ The experience of Senegal: Sharing their road map to accession as well as key challenges and advice to share, Mr. Amary Ngoné Sembène, Legal Unit Coordinator, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Senegal _ 368293 _ French _ 780 _ 355909 _ pdf

Developing Zambia’s integrated road map to accession

28813 _ Legal requirements for Zambia in the road map for accession, Ms. Comfort Mulenga, Assistant Director ILA, Ministry of Justice, Zambia _ 368294 _ English _ 773 _ 355910 _ pdf

Developing Zambia’s integrated road map to accession

28813 _ Zambia’s obligation to International Organisations-Water Convention, Mrs. Theresa Chanda, Assistant Director- International Organisations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation _ 368295 _ English _ 773 _ 355911 _ pdf

Session 6 - BENEFITS / CHALLENGES FOR ZAMBIA IN ACCEDING TO THE WATER CONVENTION TO ADDRESS IN ITS INTEGRATED ROAD MAP

Key issues to address and milestones to cover in Zambia’s accession process for developing the road map - Group Work

28814 _ Group Work Questions _ 368296 _ English _ 773 _ 355912 _ pdf

Session 7 - AGREEING THE ROAD MAP TO ACCESSION, NEXT STEPS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Plenary discussion on road map and roles and responsibilities plus immediate next steps to take

28815 _ Links with global water processes such as the COP27 and the UN Water Conference 2023, Ms. Sonja Koeppel, Secretary to the Water Convention _ 368297 _ English _ 773 _ 355913 _ pdf
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