Over the last four years, the Cuvelai Basin caught the headlines due to extensive flooding. The Cuvelai is a very specific water system, unlike any other in Southern Africa. Little is still known about this system, one of the most heavily affected by climate change in the whole region. To date there is only one publication that attempted a comprehensive approach towards understanding the water flows of the Cuvelai and their impact on human settlements and activities (Development Workshop 2011).
The project to improved resilience and Climate Governance in Angola’s Cuvelai Basin is supported by USAID in collaboration with World Learning. The goal of this project is ‘to strengthen the ability of communities living in the Cuvelai Basin to reduce climate-related risks.’
Since 2013 the project is supporting the communities in the Cuvelai Basin in adapting to climate change through integrated Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) training, planning, implementation and advocacy. The objective of the project is to reduce human and economic loss related with extreme weather conditions, with a focus on the approximately 260.000 people that live in the most flood affected areas of the Basin’
The target population of this project is the approximately 260.000 people in the major towns and rural areas mostly affected by flood waters, in the Central Drainage Area, Cuvelai Delta, Cuvelai River Basin and Shana Zone,
(see annex 6 for maps) being part of the municipalities of Cuanhama, Ombajda, Namacunde, and Cuvelai.
The results of the project are:
- Production of detailed flood risk map of the Angolan part of the Cuvalei Basin
- Completed development of participatory flood prevention plans in 4 of the most vulnerable communities and raised general awareness of DRR against floods, droughts and pests
- Successful establishment of a flood early warning system in collaboration with Cunene provincial authorities and Namibian counterparts
- Raised public awareness on DRR and better information for policy-making
Some of the most important changes brought by this project include:
a) Improving public infra-structure spending
b) Orient land use and land use planning
c) Give people time to react to natural disasters
DW is the coordinating agency of this project, but the local partner is the Provincial Civil Protection Agency of the Government. Information and capacity are being transferred to local government and non-government institutions to create capital at the provincial level and guarantee sustainability and continuity of the activities initiated by this project
