Key challenges to the socio-economic and environmental sustainability of the Cuvelai and Kunene River Basins include increasing water scarcity, hydrological variability, and land degradation. These issues are exacerbated by climate change, which has led to more frequent and severe droughts and floods. In addition, water quality degradation from poor land use practices and limited sanitation infrastructure is becoming an increasing concern.
The rising demand for water due to population growth and agricultural expansion further strains the already limited water resources in both basins. Improved management of water resources is critical to ensure the equitable distribution of water between upstream and downstream areas and between rural and urban communities. This is especially important in light of the significant hydrological differences between the upper and lower sections of the Kunene Basin and the highly variable water availability in the Cuvelai Basin.
Several barriers hinder effective cooperation and joint management of the basins, including limited institutional capacity, a lack of financial resources, and insufficient technical expertise for coordinated planning at the transboundary level. Additionally, fragmented data on water resources and inadequate information-sharing mechanisms complicate efforts to implement integrated water resource management (IWRM) strategies across national borders. Overcoming these barriers is essential for fostering sustainable development and improving the resilience of communities in both basins.
On May 16, 2024, the Ministry of Energy and Water of Angola and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform of Namibia, along with UNDP Namibia supported by UNDP Angola officially endorsed the project titled “Enhanced Water Security and Community Resilience in the Adjacent Cuvelai and Kunene Transboundary River Basins (CUVKUN)”. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the GEF Implementing Agency. The Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) is the Executing Agency, while the Cuvelai Commission (CUVECOM) and Kunene Permanent Joint Technical Committee (PJTC) are the focal custodians of the project implementation.
