Funding and programs

During development of most of the international policies for management of natural resources including lake resources, the international community has committed itself to assisting developing countries financially and technologically to in addressing the agreed policies including sustainable use of natural resources such as lakes. Efforts have been made tap these opportunities by developing and implementing both regional and national projects on different lakes to address the challenged that face the resources of African lakes and that have the highest impact on Africa’s growth and development to deliver sustainable development goals.

Management information systems

The programs implemented on the lakes have been useful in providing information which has been translated into policies for management of the lakes. However, much of the information generated has remained scattered, inaccessible, and in forms that cannot be easily accessible and applied in management of the lakes. The information also needs to be updated regularly. There is need to have systems to mobilize, package, and make information and data accessible in forms that can be used by a wide range of stakeholders to increase awareness and guide action in sustainable use of African lakes. Specific efforts should be made to apply the concept of digital for development (D4D) to tap into the rapid increase in utilization virtual systems and mobile applications in economic development. Outreach invents should be organised by partners around individual lakes. Experts from different lakes should meet at least once every three to five years to share information on different lakes and agree on future plans.

Conclusion

There are many of the factors that influence sustainable use of African lakes. They vary slightly between different lakes, change with time, and new ones emerge. There are policies and institutions at global, continental and national levels that can be applied to address the factors influencing the lakes. The status of the different factors on the different lakes need to be monitored and priority interventions for sustainable use of the different lakes determined and implemented.