Background
Over the years there have been varied Environmental, Economic and Social challenges facing the Lake Victoria Basin.It is because of these challenges and their commonality as experienced by the local authorities along the shores of the lake that Lake Victoria Local Authorities Cooperation (LVRLAC)was formed in April 1997.
LVRLAC was established as a regional cooperation of Local Authorities in the Lake Victoria Region on the initiative of the Mayors of Entebbe (Uganda) Mwanza (Tanzania)and Kisumu (Kenya).
Today, LVRLAC has a membership of 60 Local Authorities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Contacts have been made with the governments of Burundi and Rwanda, so as to incorporate local authorities from these countries in the future. Associate membership is also extended to institutions and organizations in the East African region.
Vision
A competent and influential network organisation of Local Authorities in the Lake Victoria Region with capacity to facilitate its members in their quest to provide better living standards and services as well as opportunities for sustainable development within a decade.
Mission
LVRLAC recognizes local authorities as key players for managing the environmental, economic and social challenges facing women, men, youth and children in the LVR. We believe that strengthening the cooperation and coordination between the local authorities in the LVR will result in the sustainable and coordinated development of the Basin.
LVRLAC, therefore, wants to:
- Strengthen the capacity of local authorities in Lake Victoria Region
- Promote and explore co-operation with national governments, the donor community, the private sector and CBO/NGO; and
- Serve as a mouthpiece for the interest of local authorities in the Lake Victoria Region.
LVRLAC Core values
The following core values guide LVRLAC’s work towards achieving our Vision and Mission:
- We believe in the cooperation of local authorities
- We promote good governance and democracy
- We ascribe to the principles of equity and equality.
- We believe in sustainable use of commonly shared resources.
- We practice dialogue and consensus building.
- We subscribe to the preservation and conservation efforts of the environment.
- We aspire to support livelihood improvement of the population.
- We believe in harmonious and peaceful co-existence.
- We strive to build a healthy and productive community.
- We are committed to central government’s efforts in eliminating illiteracy in our communities
Objectives of LVRLAC
The following are the objectives of LVRLAC:
- To Set up Projects and Programmes that mobilise and sensitise both rural and urban communities to participate in ending pollution and water quality degradation from industrial, urban and agro-based effluents.
- To determine suitable mechanisms involving community participation in the sustainable utilisation resources in order to improve there standard of living.
- To work for the broadest possible community participation in the promotion of urban planning and rural development for the benefit of the community while safe guarding the environment.
- To mobilize and sensitise communities in fisheries management and conservation, and promote interactions with various governmental and international agencies in fisheries resource management
- Sensitize the community on wetlands protection.
- To promote research and debate on problems facing lake Victoria region community.
- Promote among member communities the spirit of international solidarity, Peace and friendship.
Key Activities LVRLAC
- Mobilizing and sensitizing members to promote good environmental practices for protection and restoration of the lake
- Advocating for harmonization of institutional and legal frameworks amongst members (local authorities).
- Encouraging and facilitating communities participation in sustainable Lake Victoria Resource utilization and poverty reduction strategies
- Networking with partners sharing a common interest in Lake Victoria and its resources.
- Forstering strategic partnerships to facilitate Local Authority involvement in the sustainable management of Lake Victoria resources.
- Providing a platform for knowledge and experience exchange amongst member local authorities and other stakeholders.
- Facilitating projects e.g the Environmental Pedagogic Centers.
- Collecting, Collating and disseminating relevant information among the members and the public at large.
Achievements of LVRLAC
As a Networking Orgarnisation of Local Authorities around Lake Victoria,LVRLAC has brough together her members under one umbrella to discuss the environmental problems and the utilization of Lake Victoria Resources.
Membership has grown from 12 to 60 Local Authorities in 7 Years,Members have shown great vigilance in attendance of LVRLAC orgarnised events, as well as willingness in payments of subscriptions and in-kind contributions such as human resource and office accomodation.
LVRLAC has also gained recognition as a regional actor.The most Visible sign of this is the observer status offered to LVRLAC by the East African Community.
With the Objective of strengthening the organisational capacity and draw upon the experience of similar co-operation elsewhere, LVRLAC established a twinning Co-operation with the Union of Baltic Cities (UBC)in 2000.
This partnership,sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), is now moving towards its third phase. As a result of the Co-operation, LVRLAC has built capacity in project management for selected officials from its members and improved information, communication and networking capacity in a number of member councils
The Women Network, a standing committee of LVRLAC, has developed into a strong well functioning network of women politicians and civil servants working to ensure gender mainstreaming in the activities of Local Authorities in the Lake Victoria Region.
LVRLAC Strategy 2005-2008
The LVRLAC strategic plan was launched in February 2005.Strategic development areas include;
- Environmental management and Ecological Improvement
- Improved health and Sanitation including HIV/AIDS
- Urban and Rural Development and Planning
- Poverty Reduction and Livelihood Improvement
- Good Governance
- Conflict
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