Organization structure

The Council of Ministers (The Council) is the top most decision making body and is composed of five Ministers from each country from the sectors responsible for Water, Energy, Lands, Irrigated Agriculture and Local Government whose roles among others are to

• Provide overall oversight for the Commission
• Make policies, decisions and provide other necessary guidance concerning the promotion, support, cooperation and coordination in joint activities and projects
• Receive, consider and approve annual work plans and reports; approve the budget of the Commission drawn up by the Joint Steering Committee and such budget as is to be financed by revenue generated from the assets, the international community (Development Partners countries) and other sources.

The Joint Steering Committee (Committee) is composed of ten members (five from each Party) from the sectors forming the Council, out of which one member comes from district authorities within the basin; and among the functions of the Committee include

• Implement the policies and decisions of the Council and such other tasks as may be assigned by the Council, and where appropriate assist the Partner States in harmonizing the policies, strategies legislation, institutional frameworks and plans for effective management and development of the Basin in order to achieve the set goals
• Formulate development programmes and projects for approval by the Council, which would be periodically reviewed and revised as necessary
• Provide oversight over the construction and maintenance of all infrastructure under SRBDP, including flood warning, hydropower, irrigation systems, social infrastructure and operation of the dam
• Receive and approve programmes, training for Integrated Water Resources Management and development of personnel, annual work plans, budgets and reports (technical and progress reports) prepared by the Secretariat prior to submission to the Council for final endorsement
• Make recommendations to the Council for approval of the organizational structure, modifications and restructuring of the Secretariat, and establish informal working groups as necessary as would be recommended by the Secretariat
• Subject to endorsement by the Council, establish general standards and guidelines for the management of the Commission

The Secretariat of SONGWECOM is headed by the Executive Secretary (ES) who is of nationality of either Party; and the functions of the Secretariat among others are to

• Carry out the decisions and tasks assigned by the Council and the Committee under the direction of the Committee with direct responsibility to the Committee
• Provide management and technical services and financial administration and advice as requested by the Council and the Committee
• Formulate the annual work program, and prepare all other plans, project and program documents, studies and assessments as may be required in collaboration with the Local Councils and any other relevant institutions
• Implement the annual work plans as approved by the Committee and in collaboration with the Local Councils and any other relevant institutions
• Manage on a daily basis the construction, operation and maintenance of all infrastructure under SRBDP, including flood warning, hydropower, irrigation systems and operation of the dam; social infrastructure and regularly obtain, update and exchange information and data as necessary, including the development and use of a decision support system
• Provide secretarial services for sessions of the Council and the Committee
• Assisting the Governments in soliciting financial support from Development Partners, Investors and other financiers to be used for implementation of projects under phase III of the Programme
• Preparation, coordination and conducting of stakeholder awareness and sensitization meetings including donors’ conferences
• Advise the Committee on all matters as may be directed by the Committee and the Council.