Programmes

The Regional Strategic Action Plan on Integrated Water Resources Management (RSAP) is the framework through which all SADC Water Division programmes are implemented. The first RSAP was developed in 1998 and implemented over the period 1999-2004. It  focused on creating an enabling environment for the execution of physical infrastructure projects. The plan was evaluated by the Member States and revised in 2004.

In 2005, RSAP 2 was launched  to provide leadership and coordination of water resources development and management, including infrastructure development at both Member State and regional levels. RSAP 2 organizes SADC water projects and programmes into four strategic focal areas:

  • Regional Water Resources Planning and Development,
  • Infrastructure Development Support,
  • Capacity Building, and
  • Water Governance.

The SADC Water Division is currently coordinating implementation of the third phase of the Regional Strategic Action Plan on Integrated Water Resources Management and Development which runs from 2011 to 2015. The goal of RSAP III is to strengthen the enabling environment for regional water resources governance, management and development through the application of integrated water resources management at the regional, river basin, Member State and community levels.

The RSAP III promotes the implementation of interventions into three strategic areas:

  •  Water governance,
  • Infrastructure development and
  •  Water management.

Within each of these strategic areas the RSAP provides a coherent set of activities to contribute to the achievement of three strategic objectives:

  • Capacity development,
  •  Climate change adaptation and
  • Social development.

Regional Water Resources Planning and Development

The  objectives for the Regional Water Resources Planning and Development strategic area are:

  • Resource assessment and monitoring for both surface and ground water
  • Development of planning mechanisms in order to utilize the collected data, taking into account major developmental and environmental issues
  • Development of operational procedures for managing water infrastructure and the resource in general

Examples of projects under this area include the SADC Hydrological Cycle Observing System (SADC-HYCOS), SADC Groundwater and Drought Management, and SADC Economic Accounting of Water Use.  

Infrastructure Development Support

Being the centre of RSAP 2, the Infrastructure Development Support strategic area is aimed at being the support mechanism for the development of strategic and integrated infrastructure in order to achieve regional integration and development, socioeconomic development and poverty alleviation with particular emphasis on energy generation, agriculture, food security, and water and sanitation

It is comprised of three areas

  • Regional Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (RWSSP)

The programme entails the development of a regional framework for water supply and sanitation, planning and management to facilitate the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It involves institutional strengthening, rationalization, knowledge management, and monitoring and evaluation systems.

  •  Community Livelihood and IWRM Demonstration Programme,

These are projects that are necessary to demonstrate and promote the benefits of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) at community level. They include small projects such as the establishment and rehabilitation of small irrigation, water supply and sanitation schemes as well as catchment management projects.  So far Five Local level IWRM projects have been implemented with financial support from the Royal Danish Embassy though DANIDA.

This programme aims to promote the development of strategic water infrastructure including rehabilitation and expansion of existing facilities, creation of new facilities, regional programme for water supply and sanitation. RSWIDP is founded on the IWRM principle taking into account the impacts of Climate Change with a view to improve resilience. It has three support pillars of Water Supply and Sanitation, Food and Energy Security.

Capacity Building

The objective of the  Capacity Building strategic area is to equip various actors in the water and related sectors with the requisite competencies (technical, managerial and negotiation skills) to be able to adequately deliver the expected goods and services for the benefit of individuals, communities and Member States. This would be achieved through building and strengthening human and institutional capacity for sustainable management of water resources at community, national and regional levels.

Implementation  is being realized through projects such as trainings for Member States or river basin organizations as well as regional networking activities like the annual SADC-RBO workshop, the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue and the WaterNet.

Water Governance

The Water Governance area has two main objectives which are to;

  • Maintain and sustain an enabling environment as represented by the Protocol on Shared Water Courses, to ensure a level playing field between Member States;
  • Develop, promote and implement best practices regarding effective participation by various stakeholders in water resource development and management, including women, youth and other disadvantaged group

Support to shared water institutions  and stakeholder mechanisms to involve other stakeholders outside of the water sector including civil society in the management processes  are among initiatives that help achieve the above objectives. Main achievements include the fact  that the Limpopo Water Course Commission (LIMCOM), Orange-Senqu Water Course Commission (ORASECOM), the Permanent Okavango River Basin Commission (OKACOM) and the Pungwe basin authority have an executive authority in place.