Lakes Edward and Albert Integrated Fisheries and Water Resources Management -LEAF II

Multinational Lakes Edward and Albert Integrated Fisheries and Water Resources Management (LEAF II) Project.

The Multinational Lakes Edward and Albert Integrated Fisheries and Water Resources Management Project (LEAF II) is a crucial trans-boundary initiative jointly implemented by Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Coordinated under the framework of the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NELSAP), this project is dedicated to ensuring the sustainable management of the shared fisheries and water resources of Lakes Edward and Albert and their surrounding basins. Recognizing the immense ecological and socio-economic importance of these lakes, LEAF II employs an integrated approach to address challenges such as over-exploitation, environmental degradation, and climate change impacts, ultimately aiming to enhance fish productivity and improve the livelihoods of riparian communities.

Overall Project Objective: “is to sustainably increase the lakes’ fish productivity by promoting good fish capture and management practice, restoration of the lakes catchments and improvement of water quality on the shared lakes’ water resources”.

Project Components

• Fisheries Resources Development and Management
• Integrated Water Resources Management
• Project Management and Coordination

COMPONENT 1: FISHERIES RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT

• Component aims to promote sustainable management and productivity of the various species of fish in the two Lakes for the common benefit of the two countries.
• This component has four sub-components namely:
  • Updating and harmonization of policies, legislation and regulatory frameworks,
  • Development of a fisheries management information system,
  • Bilateral monitoring, control and surveillance, and
  • Local communities adopt responsible fishing practices and modern processing techniques.

COMPONENT 2: INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Component consists of 5 closely related sub components:

• Coordination capacities of NELSAP, Uganda and DRC strengthened and formalized,
• Integrated Lake Management Plans (ILMP) updated and adopted by Uganda and DRC,
• Establishment of a Basin Management Authority/ Organization for LEAB,
• Water resources quantity and quality monitoring strengthened, and
• Community-based integrated CMPs prepared and implemented in selected watersheds.

COMPONENT 3: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION

• The component is to provide resources necessary for the effective implementation, coordination, communication, monitoring and evaluation of the project activities.
• This component has two sub-components namely:
  • Project Management, and
  • Monitoring and Evaluation.