Through its work in the lake systems of eastern Africa, the Freshwater Programme is working in the following areas to ensure that freshwater resources are conserved, protected and utilized in a sustainable way.
The Mara Water Users' Association established by WWF is an example of WWF's facilitation of stakeholder dialogue in management of freshwater resources. © WWF-EARPO

Lake Bogoria Integrated Catchment Management Programme
Lake Bogoria is Kenya’s third Ramsar site and an area of local, national and international significance. This WWF programme is aimed at consolidating and scaling up the integrated management of biodiversity and the wise use of natural resources in the Lake Bogoria Catchment Basin within the Rift Valley lakes framework. Programme implementation is based on the Integrated River Basin Management approach. The programme works closely with all relevant stakeholders including the current partners of Koibatek and Baringo County Councils and local institutions in the Lake Bogoria Catchment. The project also closely works with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in harmonising the relevant aspects of the water sector reform at the local level.

Mara River Basin Management Initiative
The project aims to address water shortages and water management issues in the Mara River Basin. It involves a wide range of stakeholders, including local communities, decision makers, water users and managers. It is a process-oriented project with challenges ranging from socio-economic and cultural views of natural resource management to weak and conflicting legal and institutional structures for the management of natural resources in the Mara Basin.

This project also aims to facilitate the participatory Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) that will help conserve and ensure sustainable and equitable use of freshwater resources. This will be accomplished by the promotion of conservation measures made by the stakeholders, users, and developers.

Lake Naivasha-Malewa River Integrated Water Resources Management Project
This project aims to encourage the Kenyan government and industries to adopt policies and practices the address the key threats, conserve the biological diversity, advocate Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and reduce poverty for the local communities that depend on this ecosystem.

To achieve this, collaboration and engagement with different stakeholders, partners, water users, local communities and local industries has been necessary. The overall goal therefore is that by 2015 the programme results on IWRM have been adopted and continue to be applied on a large scale within the river basin, by government, private sector and donors.

Lake Albert Eastern Catchment Management Initiative Project
This project aims to conserve water, biodiversity and other natural resources so that ecosystem functions are secured and basic human needs are met. It employs the mechanism of Integrated Water Resources Management for at least three rivers draining into Lake Albert on the eastern side of the lake.

The project aims to facilitate the collection of important information on catchment conditions, for future management, with particular emphasis on physical and environmental conditions. Stakeholder dialog will also be facilitated so that problem identification and ranking as well as opportunities and solutions identification are carried out.

Lake Victoria Catchment Environmental Education Programme
The Lake Victoria Catchment Environmental Education Programme (LVCEEP) is a WWF EARPO regional programme that is working closely with local NGOs in the 3 riparian countries–Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The goal of the project is to secure the ecological integrity of the Lake Victoria catchment for the benefit of its inhabitants and biological diversity. The project is working with primary school teachers, tutors in teacher training colleges, school children and community members in selected target areas. Its purpose is to promote and influence change in attitude and behavior of the target catchment communities and schools towards their immediate environment while sustainably using and managing natural resources.