“Water allocation is the process of equitable sharing of available water resources; therefore, it reflects an important component in the management and development of the water resources. The process can have a significant bearing on the availability of the water resource to meet domestic needs, environmental reserve and social-economic development. The process is important to ensure water security and alleviation of water use conflicts” (As per the 2018 Draft Tanzania Guidelines for the Water Allocation Plan). Based on the limited availability of long-term hydrometeorological data, as well as the lack of hydrogeological information within the Mara River Catchment (MRC), alternately referred to as the Mara River Basin (MRB), the focus of the current water resources allocation lies within the scope of an assessment of the available surface water resources in the catchment. The Ministry seeks to streamline the water allocation process so that it supports its mandate to control and regulate the use of water resources. The increase in competing demands for the water resources in Mara River Catchment poses a huge challenge to the process of water allocation. One key element is the requirement for the basin water board (BWB) to provide hydrological and/or hydrogeological assessment report(s) which document, among other things, the water demand by the user and whether the water source has sufficient unallocated water to support the intended application purpose. This requires specific guidelines to address the water allocation process. With growing demands on limited water resources, expanding and refining water allocation systems has become a central governing concern in water management. This observation regarding development and administration of water allocation challenges led Kenya and Tanzania to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for joint water resources management and conservation efforts of the transboundary Mara River Catchment. The MOU is intended to deal with the main threats to the catchment, including poor water quality, reduction of water levels/flows (quantity) and biodiversity degradation. Part of the memorandum included the establishment and strengthening of a Joint Cooperative Framework for sustainable water resources management of the catchment. The parties undertook to cooperate in the area of sustainable development, management and equitable utilization of water resources, including water allocation, water supply and sanitation, capacity building, data and information sharing, research and development. Therefore, the plan will consider current, medium and long-term demand. This water allocation planning (WAP) sets out an analytical framework for water allocation regimes as a basis for examining how they function in a range of countries and how they can be improved. It highlights how water is a complex resource, with distinctive features as an economic good, often with a unique legal status. It identifies the key components of an allocation regime and the policy levers that can be used to improve their performance. Finally, the framework links the elements of allocation regimes with the policy objectives of economic efficiency, environmental sustainability, and social equity. Therefore, preparation of this water allocation plan is aimed at ensuring sustainable water availability, water security and avoids water related conflicts among various users. Currently, water allocation is done based on Water Resources Management (water abstraction, use and discharge, environmental water requirements, rainwater harvesting) regulations. The allocation is done through provision of water use permits, which are given to a particular user on a demand-driven basis. The process involves the assessment of the available water resources in terms of quantity and quality, allocate water requirement for domestic and environment, allocate water requirement for available permit holders downstream and then provide water from the remaining amount to the new user after consulting particular stakeholders who are likely to be affected. The validity of the permit is determined by the BWBs depending on the intended type of water use and the respective water use project period.