At the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002 the Heads of State of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, countries of the East African Community (EAC), and the Swedish Prime Minister pledged their countries’ continued commitment to sustainable development in the Lake Victoria region. The EAC countries (now including Rwanda and Burundi) have since united behind a vision for the development of Lake Victoria and the surrounding region. Sweden undertook to support these efforts during 20 years.
The Lake Victoria Initiative (LVI) is based at the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi since mid 2004. Additional staffs are operating from the Rwanda office and Swedish Embassies in Tanzania and Uganda.
The Swedish strategy 2004-2006 – (now extended to December 2009) for support to the Lake Victoria region builds on the EAC vision and emphasises regional co-operation within the Lake Victoria catchment area in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. The overall objective is to contribute to poverty reduction within a sustainable development framework. The strategy identifies five priority areas: (1) capacity building for sustainable development (2) empowering communities and individuals (3) a sound environment and sustainable use of natural resources (4) combating HIV/AIDS and (5) private sector development for economic growth.
LVI is complementary to bilateral Swedish support in the Lake Victoria area and mainly supports regional institutions such as East African Community, Lake Victoria Basin Commission, East African Legislative Assembly, Nile Basin Initiative, and Lake Victoria Region Local Authorities Co-operation.
Substantial financial support is also given to regional civil society organisations and Swedish non-governmental organisations that have their presence in the basin and working with communities to improve their livelihood.
The total annual budget is SEK 130 million for year 2008.