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The 25th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWPSA Symposium will be held from 30th October to 1st November 2024, at Avani Maseru Hotel, Maseru, the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. The event will be held under the theme, “Enhancing Sustainability: Upscaling Innovations and Best Practices for Integrated Catchment and Water Resources Management (ICWRM) in Eastern and Southern Africa – Leaving No One Behind”

The Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) played a key role in the Drought Resilience +10 Conference held from 30 September to 2 October 2024 in Geneva. Building on the outcomes of the first High-Level Meeting on National Drought Policies in 2013, the conference focused on accelerating actions to build drought resilience worldwide. It gathered countries, experts, and practitioners to review progress in drought management and outline a collective path forward.

The governments of Angola and Namibia have officially endorsed and kickstarted the implementation of a joint transboundary water project titled "Enhanced Water Security and Community Resilience in the Adjacent Cuvelai and Kunene Transboundary River Basins." This initiative aims to address the pressing challenges of water scarcity, floods, and droughts in the Cuvelai and Kunene River Basins.

Moçambique e o Zimbabué estão a enfrentar corajosamente a escalada dos desafios sociais, económicos e ambientais nas bacias hidrográficas do Buzi, Pungwe e Save. Em 2023, os dois governos lançaram a Comissão dos Cursos de Água do Buzi, Pungwe e Save (BUPUSACOM) ao abrigo de acordos de cooperação alinhados com o Protocolo Revisto da SADC sobre o Curso de Águas Partilhadas de 2000, para liderar uma resposta unida aos desafios que foram intensificados pelas alterações climáticas e pela má gestão dos recursos.

The Pungwe River basin, shared by Zimbabwe and Mozambique, is rich in plant and animal diversity. However, the ecosystem is now under threat from human activities. In 2023, Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) commissioned an Environmental Flow (EFlows) assessment to understand how the Pungwe River Basin and its ecosystems work, the findings of which will help in managing the river and protecting its natural environment.

The Pungwe River Basin originates in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe and flows through Mozambique into the Indian Ocean. About 5 % of the basin area is in Zimbabwe, with the remainder in Mozambique. However, about 28% of basin flows are generated on the Zimbabwean side. The basin is rich in plant and animal diversity, which is constantly under threat from anthropogenic activities.

With technical support from the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA), the governments of Mozambique and Zimbabwe have developed a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) for the Buzi, Pungwe, and Save (BUPUSA) River Basins. Upon finalization, the TDA is expected to inform the priorities for unlocking investments for reduction in environmental degradation, reduction in poverty, improved water quality, green and grey infrastructure development, flood control, and improved water governance of the BUPUSA Basins.

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.