Title of Event:

Name of Organisation:

Date and time of the session:

Cities and Lakes

Lake Victoria Region Local Authorities Cooperation

Monday June 19 th 2006, 14:30-16:30

Key Highlights

1. Estimated number of participants: 27

2. Stakeholder group representation: International Organizations: ILO, UN HABITAT, Donors - Sida (Urban Division), Embassy of Sweden - Uganda, USAID/WASH, Academia & Research - KARI/LVEMP, Malagina University College, University of Puerto Rico, Chalmers University of Technology - Sweden, Central Government - Ministry of Environment - Finland, Ministry of Water - Kenya, Local Authorities - Musoma, Nanyuki, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Private Sector - Design Theme, NGOs - Greenwich Environment, BEST (Better Environmentally Sound Transportation)

3. Expected Objectives: T o highlight and discuss the problems and issues facing cities in lake regions around the world with regards to the impact of the growth of the cities on the urban environment.

4. Networking event achieved: The event identified common issues and problems as regards the urban environment in lake cities. It identified the need for an integrated and common approach to solve the issues/problems.

2. Core issues identified as they relate to the theme and sub-themes

•  Deforestation identified as a threat to lakes worldwide

•  Environmental pollution of lakes globally is a looming threat

•  Lake cities in the developing world have poor infrastructure services

•  Unemployment is rising in lake cities worldwide

•  Increasing HIV/AIDS rates and infections in Africa and Asian lake cities

•  Transport and communication identified as both a weakness and opportunity for lake cities

3. Main points raised by panellists and participants in relation to these different issues

•  Challenge of governance in urban centres should be taken to its logical conclusion i.e. through decentralization and empowerment of local government

•  Lake cities should explore avenues for bilateral cooperation

New ideas generated as a result of the discussion

•  Critical actions should be identified to protect lakes

•  Cities should form community lake protection groups i.e. watchdog groups

•  The clue to environmental management is to finance Water and Sanitation initiatives in the lake regions.

•  Explore Public-Private Partnerships in financing of WATSAN

4. Process steps identified to help turn ideas into operational reality

USAID is financing three towns in Kenya in the Water and Sanitation sector