Mott MacDonald, together with consortium partners Centre for Development Management from Malawi and LTS of the UK, has been appointed on the first phase of the Shire River Basin Management Programme by Malawi’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development. The World Bank financed project is being implemented to improve land and water management and protect and enhance the Shire River ecosystem, while providing livelihood benefits in target areas.
The Shire River Basin is Malawi’s single most important water resource, supporting the country’s key economic sectors including food production, transport, energy, tourism, agriculture and fisheries. The aim of the programme is to increase sustainable social, economic and environmental benefits of the basin by effectively and collaboratively planning, developing and managing its natural resources.
The programme is made up of three components – Shire basin planning, catchment management and water related infrastructure – and the Mott MacDonald led consortium will be responsible for the catchment management component. This will aim to rehabilitate four catchments – Upper Lisungwi, Upper Wamkulumadzi, Kapichira Falls and Chingale – covering a combined area of approximately 133,000 ha. The consortium will develop methods to reduce soil erosion, utilise soil conservation methods and improve and diversify livelihoods.
Secretary for Water Development and Irrigation, Sandram Maweru, said: ‘’We are looking forward to the high quality implementation of this project.”
Guy Jones, Mott MacDonald's project director, said: “We are proud to contribute to this programme, which supports Malawi’s long-term vision to acknowledge the importance of ecosystem services to economic growth.”
The project is due to be completed in 2018.