Growing populations and climatic impacts are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources. This is true of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region which comprises 16 Member States, whose population in 2018, was estimated to be at 345.2 million, a rise from 336.9 million as of 2017. Rivers play a pivotal role in the region's socio-economic development, as evidenced by its reliance on these waterways. Southern Africa boasts of 15 major transboundary river basins, shared among neighbouring countries, with 13 basins entirely within the region's borders. However, the equitable distribution of water resources remains a challenge, exacerbated by climatic factors influencing rainfall patterns and the geographical distribution of river basins. While these rivers can spark conflicts, they also serve as conduits for peace and cooperation. Therefore, prioritizing transboundary water cooperation is not merely about economic prosperity but also essential for nurturing stability and harmony throughout the region.
Countries sharing transboundary river basins often have conflicting demands over the available amount of water to be divided among them. Reaching an agreement often relies on available water data and forecasting. Negotiations over a water-sharing agreement or basin management arrangement benefit greatly from trust-building exercises, for example, conducting joint water data analyses or integrating scientific knowledge about water into the management decisions.
On Wednesday 4 October 2023, GWP and IW:Learn hosted an online session on multi-stakeholder regional dialogues, focusing on the critical enabling factors that contribute to their success, and how they positively impact transboundary water cooperation.
The Global Water Partnership - Mediterranean is seeking to hire a Senior Programme Officer. The successful candidate will be hired by the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE), a civil non-profit society based in Greece, in its capacity as Host Institute for GWP-Med.
On the occasion of the 2023 SDG Summit in New York, 18-19 September, the Transboundary Water Cooperation Coalition calls Member States and all relevant stakeholders to act to protect and better manage transboundary waters in all basins and connected coastal systems worldwide.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC), in collaboration with the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM), and with the technical support of the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA), is scheduled to convene the 10th SADC River Basin Organisations / Shared Watercourse Institutions (RBOs/SWIs) Workshop on 2-4 October 2023.
