Integrated Lake Management

Lessons

An enabling policy environment for poverty focused lake management

An enabling policy and institutional environment is essential for effective integrated lake management, where lake management organisations are legally recognised and supported through national sector plans. Clear definition of roles and responsibilities are critical for fisheries co-management, so that communities and government complement and support each other in management and planning. An explicit poverty focus is required in legislation, management structures and decision-making processes. The key lessons on creating an enabling environment are:

1. Poverty focus: The overarching policy framework for development of Highly Indebted Poor Countries is set out in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers. In Uganda, this is the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP). Recognition of the role of lake and fisheries management in poverty reduction and economic growth in the PEAP is essential for directing national and local policy support and resource allocation.
2. National Fisheries Policy: The participatory development of a new National Fisheries Policy was essential for the development and implementation of lake management and fisheries co-management, including the development of new institutional arrangements.
3. National Fisheries Legislation: The formulation of new fisheries legislation was essential for providing legal empowerment of community organisations for fisheries planning and management. A draft Fisheries Bill (2004) will go further in strengthening the legal mandate of the fisheries institutions at all levels.
4. Fisheries Management Institutions: An integrated co-management approach required the establishment of new management institutions at national, lake wide and community levels with strong linkages between each level.
5. National Fisheries Sector Strategic Plan: The National Fisheries Policy is implemented through the provisional Fisheries Sector Strategic Plan (FSSP). The FSSP is a necessary entry point to attract investment through central budget support and "basket funding" mechanisms of development partners. It provides the umbrella framework within which fisheries plans are made at lower, local levels.
6. Sector Wide Approach (SWAp): Integrated lake management provides an excellent example of how sectors can come together for effective co-ordination and delivery. The natural resources sector in Uganda is moving towards a Sector Wide Approach, where all NR sub-sectors are coming together for sector wide planning, budgeting and implementation. The PEAP directs priority areas using a SWAp, operating under budget ceilings set out in Medium Term Expenditure Frameworks
7. Local Government Development Plans:District Development Plans provide the entry point for accessing central budget support for prioritised local interventions. A Fiscal Decentralisation System is being implemented to rationalise and simplify financial planning and management for local governments. Lake management plans and budgets must be integrated into local government planning systems, processes and cycles and be designed to compete for scarce financial resources by clearly demonstrating contributions to poverty reduction, improved livelihoods and economic development.
8. Community based planning: As many of the responsibilities for natural resource management (NRM) fall to local governments, it is essential that community-based planning for NRM is fully integrated into mainstream local government development planning. This will only happen with strong guidance and incentives from central government.