The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between The University of Zambia and the University of Michigan Conception and Subsequent Implementation Goals

摘要

In April 2008 the University of Michigan and the University of Zambiasigned a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that approved a cooperativeagreement to foster the development of a collaborative research and exchangeprogram focused on concepts of integrated water resources management (IWRM) tobe applied in the Zambezi River Basin in Southern Africa and the Great Lakes Basinin the U.S. The Zambezi River Basin, home to nearly 40 million people, is thelargest river basin in Southern Africa covering 1.37 million square kilometers ineight countries. The Great Lakes Basin watershed is home to about 40 million peopleliving in eight U.S. States and two Canadian Provinces and covers over 1/2 millionsquare kilometers.The MOU marks the culmination of a sixteen month effort which began inJanuary 2007 and included two trips to Southern Africa, one in August 2007 and asecond in November 2007. Individuals from The Nature Conservancy’s GreatRivers Program, which includes the Zambezi River, facilitated the first trip to thebasin through their contacts at the African Wildlife Foundation Zambezi Heartlandteam based in Kariba, Zimbabwe. The first trip provided an introduction to the rangeof problems and issues confronting application of IWRM in the Zambezi River andserved to establish contact with a number of key organizations and people working toenhance and improve the management of the Zambezi’s water resources. Followingthe first visit, we were invited to participate in the “Championing Effective IWRM inthe Zambezi Basin” Conference held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in November of2007. The second trip and Conference provided an opportunity to reconnect withcolleagues met during the first visit to the basin and, in addition, to meet newcolleagues including Professor Imasiku Nyambe.