In January 2026, IUCN, in partnership with UNEP and the UNEP-DHI Centre, and with support from Denmark, launched the Climate Resilient Eastern African Transboundary Water Management for Environmental Sustainability (CREATES) programme. This multi-year initiative aims to strengthen climate-resilient and cooperative water management across Eastern Africa, working closely with the governments of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. CREATES forms part of Denmark’s contribution to the EU Team Europe Initiative on Transboundary Water Management and complements broader regional and continental efforts to ensure the sustainable management of shared water resources, promoting water security, climate resilience, and regional cooperation.
The programme will initially focus on two priority transboundary river basins: the Mara Basin, shared by Kenya and Tanzania, and the Sio-Malaba-Malakisi Basin, shared by Kenya and Uganda. Both basins face increasing pressures from climate variability, rising water demand, and limited transboundary governance frameworks, yet they present strong opportunities for cooperation and improved joint management. The initiative seeks to address these challenges while generating tangible benefits for local communities through strengthened governance and climate adaptation measures.
CREATES is implemented through a close partnership between IUCN, leading river basin governance and stakeholder coordination efforts, and the UNEP-DHI Centre, providing technical support including decision-support systems, data management, and capacity development. A joint Programme Management Unit (PMU) based in Nairobi coordinates delivery, learning, and alignment across all programme components. The initiative adopts an adaptive, learning-based approach, ensuring activities remain responsive to emerging needs and lessons, while engagement with governments, river basin organisations, and regional bodies ensures alignment with existing strategies and long-term sustainability.
The programme officially began its six-month inception phase with a PMU start-up meeting on 13–14 January 2026 in Nairobi. This phase focuses on establishing governance structures, engaging partners, and refining workplans to support basin-level priorities. Over time, CREATES aims to strengthen institutions, improve cooperation, and promote more sustainable management of shared water resources in the target basins, with lessons and best practices shared across Eastern Africa to enhance regional climate resilience and water governance.
