Malawi: Shire River Basin Management Program (Phase-I) Project

The overall Program Development Objective of the Shire River Basin Management Program is to generate sustainable social, economic and environmental benefits by effectively and collaboratively planning, developing and managing the Shire River Basin’s natural resources. The program would support the Government’s Shire basin Policy Letter , and would have a duration of 12-15 years. The first phase project – the Shire River Basin Management Program (Phase-I) Project (SRBMP) – would establish coordinated inter-sectoral development planning and coordination mechanisms, undertake the most urgent water related infrastructure investments, prepare additional infrastructure investments, and develop up-scalable systems and methods to rehabilitate sub-catchments and protect existing natural forests, wetlands and biodiversity. Future phases would consolidate Basin planning and development mechanisms and institutions, undertake further infrastructure investments, and up-scale catchment rehabilitation for sustainable natural resource management and livelihoods. The Project Development Objective (PDO) of the SRBMP is to develop a Shire River Basin planning framework and improve land and water management for ecosystem and livelihood benefits in target areas. The project would:(a) strengthen the institutionalcapacities and mechanisms for Shire Basin monitoring, planning, management and decision support systems; (b) invest in water related infrastructure that sustainably improves water resources management and development; (c) reduce erosion in priority catchments andsedimentation and flooding downstream, while enhancing environmental services, agricultural productivity and improving livelihoods;(d) improve flood management in the Lower Shire and provide community level adaptatin and mitigation support; and (e) protect and enhance ecological services in the Basin.