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By The Citizen Reporter, Arusha
Finland has joined in funding development projects in the Lake Victoria basin by giving euro 2 million grants.
The funds will be provided through the Lake Victoria Partnership Fund that finances projects in the basin.
“The Finnish government remains committed to promote ecology, social and economic sustainable development of the Lake Victoria basin,” the second secretary at the Finish embassy in Tanzania, Mr Annti Putkonen, said on Friday.
He was presenting the Instrument of Accession to the Lake Victoria Basin Partnership Agreement to Ms Beatrice Kiraso, the East African Community (EAC) deputy secretary general in charge of political federation.
Apart from Finland, other donors currently supporting the fund are France, Norway, Sweden, World Bank and the East African Development Bank.
“We are delighted that Finland’s application to accede to the partnership agreement was considered and accepted during the 14th meeting of the Partnership Consultative Committee, held on May 4, 2010, in Kampala, Uganda," Mr Putkonen noted during the occasion at the EAC headquarters in Arusha.
He said Finland was looking forward to enhanced cooperation with the EAC and the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC).
The LVBC was established by the EAC in 2005 to spearhead sustainable development projects in the shared lake and its vast basin, which covers parts of all the five member states: Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda.
The commission relocated to its present headquarters in Kisumu, Kenya in June 2007.
Recognising the role played by other stakeholders in the developments in the Lake Victoria basin, the commission has entered into partnerships and signed agreements with governments and oranisations so as to build up synergies in the implementation of its interventions in the EAC Development Strategy by the stakeholders.
Among them is the Partnership Agreement on Sustainable Development of Lake Victoria Basin signed by EAC with the governments of France, Norway and Sweden, the World Bank and the East African Development Bank in April 2001.
The partnership fund has played a big role in financing projects in the basin, including capacity building of the LVBC. It has also supported several short-term capacity-building projects, hence providing the backbone for the growth of the LVBC.
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