Context:
70 per cent of water resources in Southern Africa are transboundary. They are the basis for human and animal life as well as economic development. Despite this, climate change and increasing demand for water are leading to water insecurity and scarcity. The member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) therefore need to cooperate more closely on transboundary water management.However, the institutions responsible (e.g., river basin organisations (RBOs)) often lack technical and financial resources. Important information for planning and decisions is frequently unavailable. Furthermore, topics such as gender equality, environmental protection and long-term financing are often neglected.
Objective:
More effective structures for governance are improving transboundary, climate-resilient water management in Southern Africa.
Approach:
The project supports the SADC in developing and implementing policies and guidelines for regional cooperation with the member states. Through additional funds from the European Union (EU), the project supports RBOs in enhancing their information systems. This provides a more reliable basis for decision-making. In addition, discussion platforms and training support regional knowledge sharing, synergies, expertise and management competence.