Tanzania and Kenya Signs the 12 Resolutions for the Mara River

Posted on 19 September 2023

The governments of Kenya and Tanzania have signed an agreement with 12 resolutions for the use and protection of the waters of Mara River, that serves more than 2 million people in both countries.

Witnessed by the guest of honour during the 12^th Mara day celebrations in Mugumu Serengeti, the two countries among others have determined to fund raise for the Mara ecosystem conservation, promote climate smart agriculture, unlock opportunities for the private sector investing in the Mara, investing in artificial intelligence and strengthening institutional frameworks for cooperation.
Engineer Maryprisca Mahundi, the deputy minister for Water applauded the move and called on all players in Tanzania and Kenya to work and operationalize the resolutions so the 2 million people depending on the Mara can sustainably benefit.
She has called on all stakeholders including communities, organizations and all well-wishers to take action and deal with the challenges that face the Mara River.
“Deforestation, agriculture, over grazing, unsustainable and careless mining and pollution are just some of the challenges leading to the deterioration of Mara River in terms of its water quantity and quality. Without working together, we can never achieve our restoration and conservation of the Mara. It is time that we take action together and now. Meteorologists are forecasting heavy rains in the coming months, lets aim at planting at least 100,000 trees along the Mara River during this rainy season”.

She said as much as events like Mara Day are important for awareness raising and knowledge enhancement stakeholders should not stop there.
“Protecting the Mara should be our life style, we need to teach our children everyday why it is important to protect the river and them in turn will see that as part of their lives”.
Mara Day is celebrated every 15^th day of September and brings together Mara stakeholders from Kenya and Tanzania. The decision to have the Mara Day was coined by the Ministers in 2012 in Kigali Rwanda. The agreement was to have Mara day celebrations every year alternating between Kenya and Tanzania.
This year the celebrations included tree planting and beacon erection along the Mara River, A scientific conference, a Transboundary Water Users Forum and exhibitions at the Sokoine grounds in Mugumu
Attached are the resolutions signed during the 12^th Commemorations

EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
LAKE VICTORIA BASIN COMMISSION

12^th Mara Day Celebrations
“Hifadhi Mto Mara kwa Ustawi wa Viumbe Hai na Uchumi Endelevu”
Conservation of Mara River for Biodiversity and Sustainable Economy
12^th to 15^th September 2023
Mugumu Town, Serengeti District
United Republic of Tanzania

RESOLUTIONS OF 12^TH MARA DAY CELEBRATIONS 2023
We, the participants of the 12^TH Mara Day Celebrations and its Scientific Conference held from 12^th to 15^thSeptember, 2023 in Mugumu Town, Serengeti District in the United Republic of Tanzania and as key stakeholders of the shared Maasai Mara-Serengeti Ecosystem;

that the riparian East African Community Partner States of the Republic of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania have a shared heritage and a common interest in achieving sustainable development of Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) and specifically the transboundary Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.

Noting that the Protocol for Sustainable Development of Lake Victoria Basin provides the legal and institutional framework for the collaborative and sustainable management of the basin among the EAC Partner States.
Recognizing that the Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria Basin designated the 15^th Day of September every year as Mara Day to coincide with the annual wildlife migration (recognized as the 7^th world wonder) with a view to raising awareness on the significance and importance of conserving this critical shared ecosystem for posterity.

that the Governments of the United Republic of Tanzania and Republic of Kenya entered a Memorandum of Understanding for Joint Water Resources Management of the Transboundary Mara River basin.

Cognizant of the fact that as a transboundary ecosystem, the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem and Lake Victoria Basin in general continue to face various development and environmental challenges that require the concerted efforts of all stakeholders.

the outcomes of the African Climate Summit held in Nairobi in September 2023.

And desirous to Further strengthen the cooperative and sustainable management of the Masai-Mara-Serengeti ecosystem for posterity.
Hereby, agree and recommend for action by the two Governments, Devolved Governments and Local Authorities, Development Partners, Civil Society, Regional and International conservation agencies, Riparian Communities, Private Sector, Nile Basin Initiative, and the East African Community as appropriate to:

Promote and invest in climate-smart agriculture, nature-based solutions, Ecosystem-based Adaptation and renewable energy and energy efficiency to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on the riparian communities and on the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem as part of the agreed Africa Climate Adaptation programme.
Pursue and unlock private sector financing and investments to promote sustainable tourism, biodiversity conservation and pollution control in the Mara River Basin.
Identify and map major point source pollution hotspots and prepare a water quality investment plan for the Mara River.
Seek partnership for the application of Artificial Intelligence, Earth Observation, and other innovative technologies to support knowledge generation and ecosystem monitoring for decision support and sustainable management of the shared ecosystem.
Further strengthen the institutional framework for cooperative management of the transboundary Masai Mara-Serengeti ecosystem (by among others reinvigorating institutional structures, forums and instruments envisaged in the cooperative MOU such as the Transboundary Mara River Water Resources Users Forum, the Joint Technical and Coordination Committees, Mara River Basin Stakeholders Dialogue Forum among others).
Initiate a Water Fund (Watershed Investment Program) for the Mara River Basin to optimally support conservation of the Transboundary Masai Mara Serengeti ecosystem while at the same time empowering women, youth, and other marginalized groups for more inclusive and sustainable development.
Make budgetary provisions and prioritize interventions in the Mara-Serengeti Ecosystem (including Mara Day Celebrations) in our respective budgets.
Intensify and diversify resource mobilization initiatives for a broad-based multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder transboundary programme to catalyze sustainable management and development of Masai Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.
Embrace and integrate indigenous knowledge and practices of targeted communities in ecosystem conservation and management including policy, programming, and on-ground interventions.
Support the implementation of Mara River Transboundary Water Allocation Plan, including both upstream and down-stream parts of the basin.
Support the establishment of Joint Transboundary Water Project and institutionalize the Mara River Basin Scientific Conference in all future Mara Day Celebrations.
Reach out and leverage on private sector financing and investments for sustainable development of Mara River Basin (MRB) and in the Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) in general.

In faith, whereof, the undersigned have appended their signatures hereto on the 15^th day of September in the year Two Thousand and Twenty-Three.

Name: Sign: -----------------------------------------------------	Name: Sign: ------------------------------------------------------------
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water, United Republic of Tanzania	Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Republic of Kenya

Resolutions for Mara