Overview & Background

GWP SA has, since its inception, supported the implementation of the Regional Strategic Action Plan on Integrated Water Resources Management. As an implementing partner for the past 19 years, GWPSA has been requested to support implementation within the framework of the SADC-GIZ Transboundary Water Management Programme.

The GWPSA programmatic support to SADC ensures that stakeholders are engaged in regional processes and influenced to implement good practices in transboundary water resources management.

The following are the guiding principles of the programmatic support to the RSAP IV on IWRM:

Harness the existing information and knowledge on SADC regional and basin wide water resources management initiatives and issues and emphasize the importance of harmonizing issues for transboundary cooperation.
Ensure linkages of regional, basin and local level interventions aimed at managing and developing shared watercourses.
Encourage other sectors to take into consideration basin wide issues and increase their investments in developing and managing the resource to achieve social equity, environmental integrity and economic efficiency.
Contribute to the outputs of the SADC-GIZ TWM programme – on strengthening RBOs and implementing policies promoting regional cooperation in water resources management and climate change.
Contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 6 – the support will also focus on contributing to the achievement of the SDG 6.

The activities are being complemented through the GWPSA’s partners, based at national and local level institutions, to ensure initiatives are locally-owned and sustained beyond the project lifeline.

Page last edited: 1/20/2019

In 1999 GWP SA supported SADC in the development of the Southern Africa Vision for Water, Life and the Environment. During this period, SADC National Water Weeks were held in all the countries in the region and these were facilitated by GWP SA.
In the RSAP I, GWP SA was charged with raising public awareness on IWRM and driving stakeholder participation. This coincided with the establishment of multi-stakeholder platforms at the country level – Country Water Partnerships (CWPs) in the 12 SADC mainland states.
During the implementation of the RSAP II, GWP SA was instrumental in ensuring stakeholder involvement in the development of the SADC Regional Water Policy and Strategy and provided and coordinated regional expertise in their formulation. GWP also provided support to SADC through monitoring IWRM planning and implementation in the member states.
In the third phase of the implementation of the RSAP on IWRM – GWP under the SADC-GIZ Transboundary Water Management Programme implemented several key activities. The first activity was on knowledge harnessing, the second was on stakeholder participation through conducting the national water weeks, and the third and last one was the promoting of investments in transboundary waters which focused on accessing funds for climate adaption projects.

Overview & Background

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