Introduction

‌• The Omo-Turkana River Basin, approximately 130,000 km² in area, with a population of nearly 16 million people shared mainly by Ethiopia and Kenya but with small portions in Uganda and South Sudan, is a key resource for East Africa that contributes to regional energy security and supports agriculture and key ecosystem services.

‌• There has been active water infrastructure development in the twenty-first century, particularly in the Ethiopian portion of the basin. The Omo-Gibe hydropower cascade has been critical to Ethiopia’s recent development, producing clear economic benefits but also contested alterations of downstream flow that potentially have severe implications for the livelihoods and well-being of many people in Ethiopia and Kenya.

‌• Rural populations in the basin may experience more than their fair share of socioeconomic deprivation. Reducing poverty, meeting basic health and education needs and improving the quality of life for people should thus be an important priority.

‌• Holistic and inclusive (local to national) management at basin-wide level is key to minimizing negative impacts and promoting benefits for livelihoods, economic development and environmental protection in a context of natural and human-induced change. Starting small through focus on achievable first steps, such as initiating transboundary data exchange and regularizing cross-country interactions, presents low-risk high-reward activities which could be pursued.

‌• Discourse on sustainable development in the Omo-Turkana Basin has become increasingly sensitive. Balanced analysis to support constructive dialogue in response to actual conditions, focused on the whole basin rather than only Lake Turkana, is unfortunately uncommon. This book is an effort to support integrated management of the Omo-Turkana Basin.