Atkins wins transboundary river management contract in Africa - 19 June 2008
Atkins is to help improve water management and environmental protection in the Orange-Senqu River Basin in southern Africa. Funded by the European Development Fund (EDF), Atkins is lead member of the consortium awarded the contract, which includes the South African companies Pegasys Strategy & Development and Water for Africa.
The Orange River (called the Senqu River in Lesotho) originates in the Lesotho Highlands and stretches 2,300 km through Lesotho and South Africa; it has ephemeral (i.e. flowing only occasionally) tributaries in Botswana and Namibia and, in its lower reaches, forms the border between South Africa and Namibia. It is an important water source for the human population in all of these areas, and beyond through transfer schemes, it supports agriculture, industry and mining and is essential to the South African economy.
The six key areas Atkins will focus on are:
• Development of a water resources management master plan for the Orange-Senqu River Basin;
• Development and implementation of water conservation and environmental strategies;
• Strengthening of basin management institutions and organisations;
• Enhancing and building of capacity for improved management of shared watercourses in all riparian states;
• Development of a shared information system that promotes a common understanding for decision-making, and;
• Improvement of the Orange-Senqu River Basin Commission’s (ORASECOM) communication and awareness building processes.
Through delivering these initiatives it is envisaged the project will help reduce poverty and food insecurity in the region.
Atkins’ project manager Eliot Taylor states “We are very pleased with this win. I’ve just returned from a very successful trip as part of the inception phase and the project is already taking shape nicely. Institutional strengthening and capacity building in the context of a transboundary river basin organisation such as ORASECOM are key and interesting technical areas for us. Additionally, the project is just one of five across Africa that the EU is funding as part of its “African Transboundary River Basin Support Programme” and winning this contract should hopefully position us as favourable contenders for the remaining four.”
For the next three years, Atkins will work with the ORASECOM Secretariat based in Pretoria, South Africa. The Secretariat’s responsibility is to implement decisions made by the Commission on improving sustainable management of the river basin.
ENDS
ENQUIRIES:
Imogen Parker imogen.parker@atkinsglobal.com
Communications Manager
Water & Environment
Tel: +44 (0) 1372 754353
Mob: +44 (0) 7834 507596
NOTES TO EDITORS:
River Basin Management
Atkins has extensive experience in river basin management across the world and is also a lead member of a consortium for the China River Basin Management Programme. Other relevant experience in this area includes:
Country Project Description of work undertaken by Atkins Funding agency
China River Basin Management Programme The European Commission has awarded the China River Basin Management Programme to a consortium in which Atkins has a major role. This aim of this five year programme is the transfer/devolution of power to the participatory oriented river basin management units in order to allow them to develop and implement basin-wide water conservation, management and environmental protection policies and strategies. European Commission
Hungary Zagyva-Tarna River Basin Management Plan Atkins was appointed to lead a project to develop the Hungarian pilot River Basin Management Master Plan in accordance with the Water Framework Directive for the Zagyva-Tarna River Basin. European Commission
India Doon Valley Integrated Watershed Management Project The project aimed to arrest environmental degradation in the Doon Valley. The focus was on raising the living standards of the rural population by enhancing communication, information exchange and awareness building with communities at all stages. The work included the development and implementation of basin-wide water conservation management and environmental protection policies and strategies. European Commission
About Atkins
Atkins is a multinational engineering and design consultancy, providing expertise to help resolve complex challenges presented by the built and natural environment. Atkins is the largest multidisciplinary consultancy in Europe; the largest engineering consultancy in the UK; and the world’s fifth largest design firm.
Atkins won Engineering Consultant of the Year 2008 at the prestigious Building Awards. The company was named among the “20 Best Big Companies to Work For 2008’ by The Sunday Times; The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2007; and The Times Top 50 Companies Where Women Want to Work 2007. The company was “Best of the Best” winner in the Target National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2007.
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