With infrastructure central to its goals of poverty eradication and Regional Integration, SADC developed the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan as a strategic framework guiding infrastructure development in Southern Africa. The Water Sector Plan component of this Master Plan aims to further the development of water resources infrastructure in the SADC region, with particular regard for those projects already authorised by Member States.
The Sector Plan analyses the current situation in SADC regarding access to drinking water, sanitation, irrigation, and other water resource uses, offering projections for the future and an assessment of gaps between the current situation and infrastructure goals for 2027. It then sets out a strategic framework for improvements to water infrastructure, as well as an implementation strategy that prioritises projects, resource requirements, and methods of implementation. Water infrastructure is particularly crucial for improving the quality of life in the region as it strives to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.