The CUVKUN Project is a transboundary water project, the partnership structure involves Member States, and international cooperating partners (ICPs), UN agencies, and regional government commissions.
The Ministry of Energy and Water (Ministério da Energia e Águas), or MINEA is responsible for establishing strategies for the sustainable use and conservation of water resources, including both surface water and groundwater.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) is a key government ministry in Namibia with a broad mandate to manage the nation’s vital natural resources. Its responsibilities are crucial for the country’s economic development, food security, and environmental sustainability.
The Cuvelai Watercourse Commission (CUVECOM) is the institution responsible for managing the water resources of the Cuvelai River basin, a transboundary resource shared by Angola and Namibia. CUVECOM’s mission is to promote and advise on the sustainable management of water resources to support the safety and well-being of the population. The Commission officially came into being on 16th September 2014.
The Permanent Joint Technical Commission on the Kunene River (PJTC) is a collaborative body established by the governments of Angola and Namibia to manage the water resources of the Kunene River Basin. The PJTC’s primary role is to ensure equitable and sustainable water allocation between the two countries, addressing the challenges posed by climate change and the variability of water availability.
The Global Environment Facility has financed transboundary water cooperation across shared fresh and marine water systems since its inception in 1991. Globally, more than 300 watersheds and an even greater number of aquifers cross the political boundaries of two or more countries. These watersheds, which cover about half of the Earth’s land surface, are home to about 40 percent of the global population. Cooperation on water, therefore, is a must in most international basins to support the need for water, food, energy, and ecosystems security and increase resilience for each nation.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Namibia provides project assurance and oversight for the CUVKUN Project. The UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
GWP Southern Africa (GWPSA) is the implementing partner and is one of 13 regional networks that make up GWP, an international network that was created in 1996 to foster implementation of integrated water resources management: the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources that maximises economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of ecosystems and the environment. GWPSA offers practical support for sustainably managing water resources to 16 countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The regional network manages activities and convenes stakeholders in this region and at a pan-African level to address issues that have an impact on water security. GWPSA hosts the coordination unit for all five Global Water Partnership regions in Africa, known as the Africa Coordination Unit or ACU.
