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Southern African Development Community (SADC):
SADC Regional Strategic Action Plan |
The Regional Water Policy and Strategy is to be implemented through a series of short-term water sector programs via the Regional Strategic Action Plan (RSAP) on Intergrated Water Resources Development and Management. To date, there have been three iterations of the RSAP, as described below:
RSAP 3
The RSAP 3 (2011- 2015) is the current implementation plan that aims to support implementantion of IWRM through strengthning the enabling environment for water resources governace in the region(SADC 2005b)
The plan presents a series of interventions and activities which have been devised to meet three strategic objectives found within the three strategic areas(listed below) that are considered the key pillars of IWRM.
- Water Governance
- Infrastructure Development
- Water Management
The plan presents a list of 15 programmes each with a set of comprehensive interventions and a guide to the level at which these will be implemented with clear roles and responsilibities outlined.Plans are also in place for a monitroing and evaluation system to be developed tracking the progress of each of the interventions and their contribution to achieving the strategic objectives. As has been the case with the two previous plans, a mid term review will be conducted for the RSAP in 2013.
A copy of RSAP 3 can be found in the Document Library.
RSAP 2
RSAP 2 (2005–2010) was the second implementation plan which had its focus on on water and development through projects and initiatives in four strategic clusters (SADC 2005b):
- Regional Water Resources management, planning and development (assessment, monitoring, planning, operation)
- Infrastructure Development Support (Regional Strategic Water Infrastructure Development Programme (RSWIDP); over 140 projects assessed – 38% in bulk water supply, dams, transfers, and hydropower (Ramoeli 2006 and SADC 2006b)
- Water Governance (implementation of Protocol, stakeholder participation, implementation of policy and strategy)
- Capacity Building (skills training, academic IWRM training and research, support to WD, strengthening RBOs)
The RSAP 2 is available in the Document Library.
RSAP 1
RSAP 1 was implemented over the period 1999–2004 (SADC 2005a), to establish an enabling environment for the integrated management of water resources in the region, in support of the achievement of other regional objectives. SADC implemented 31 of the 44 projects (see Table 1) in the categories of:
- Legislation, Policy and Strategic Planning
- Capacity Building and Training
- Awareness Creation, Consultation and Public Participation
- Information Collection, Analysis, Management and Dissemination and Improved National and Transboundary River Basin Management, Planning and Co-ordination
- Infrastructure Investment
- Stand Alone – Special Priority Areas
Implementation of RSAP 1 clearly demonstrated that international cooperation is possible in the management of scarce resources. A good example is the revision and ratification of the Protocol on Shared Watercourses (1995–2003) which provided a framework within which to reach more detailed agreements such as the Incomaputo Agreement. Another good example of international cooperation is the preparation of the Regional Water Policy. RSAP 1 furthermore revealed that local communities can be mobilised and can have an impact on water resources planning.
Find the Implementing the Regional Strategic Action Plan (1) for Integrated Water Resources Management (1999 to 2004): Lessons & Best Practice (2005) Document in the Document Library.
Table: Projects within the Regional Strategic Action Program 1 and 2
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Cluster Name |
RSAP 2 Project Ref. |
Project Title |
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(project #) RSAP 1 |
RSAP 2 |
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3Regional Water Resources Planning and Management |
RWR 1 |
15 Expansion of SADC-HYCOS Project 18 Upgrade and Modernise Water Monitoring Systems for Lake Malawi 19 Rehabilitation of Joint Monitoring Systems – Angola and Namibia |
Consolidation and expansion of SADC-HYCOS |
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RWR 2 |
14 Assessment of Surface Water Resources |
Standards assessment of surface water resources |
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RWR 3 |
6 Groundwater Management Programme in SADC |
Groundwater Management Programme in SADC |
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RWR 4 |
12 Economic Accounting of Water Use |
Support of Strategic and integrated Water Resources Planning |
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RWR 5 |
2 Regional Guidelines for Dam Safety Legislation and Procedures |
Dam Safety, Synchronisation and Emerging operations |
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Infrastructure Development Support |
INF 1 |
13 Study for Expanding Private Sector Participation in Water and Sanitation Services 27 Control and Development of Lake Malawi and Shire River 28 Study of the Navigability of the Zambezi and Shire Rivers 29 Stabilisation of the Course of the Songwe River 30 Lower Orange River |
Regional Strategic Water Infrastructure Programme |
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INF 2 |
5 Programme on Water Supply and Sanitation for SADC Region |
Implementation of the Water Supply and Sanitation Programme for SADC |
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Water Governance |
WG 1 |
8 Implementation Programme for SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourses 30 Lower Orange River 31 Integrated Basin Management Plan for the Okavango River |
Implementation Programme for SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourses |
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WG 2 |
4 Consultative Forum on Water Issues 20 Awareness-Building for Decision-Makers 21 Involving the Media in Water Issues 24 Promotion of Stakeholder Participation in Water Resources Management 25 Feasibility Study for Creating Fund to Support NGO/CBO Participation in Water Resources Management Activities 26 Programme on Means to Empower Women in Water Issues |
Promotion of public participation in water resource development and management |
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WG 3 |
1 Regional Guidelines for Review and Formulation of National Water Legislation |
Promotion of Implementation of Regional Water Policy and Strategy |
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9 Regional Guidelines for Water Policy and Review in Member-States 10 Develop and implement National Water Sector Strategies 11 Establish Regional Water Sector Policy and Strategy |
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Capacity Building |
CB 1 |
22 Human Resources Development Programme 17 Training in Surveying, Mapping and Geographic Information Systems |
Skills training for water policymakers, managers and practitioners |
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CB 2 |
23 WaterNet |
WaterNet |
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CB 3 |
7 WSCU Capacity Building Project |
Capacity Building Support to the SADC Water Division |
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CB 4 |
3 Capacity Building for Joint Integrated Basin Management |
Strengthening River Basin Organisations |
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CB 5 |
WARFSA |
Regional Water Research Fund |
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Total No. of Projects |
15 |
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To learn more about the Regional Strategic Action Programs, please refer to the SADC website.
The third strategic action plan has a slightly different structure to the two previous plans.The table below shows a summary of the list of programme objectives the RSAP 3 aims to achieve, these have been grouped into the strategic areas and objectives under which they fall.Specific activities and interventions fall within each of the overarching programme objectives.
| Strategic Objectives | No. | Category | Stragetic Area | ||
| Water Governance | Infrastructure Development | Water Management | |||
| Capacity Development | 1 |
River Basin Organisations |
Strengthen the organisational and institutional
mechanisms for river basin management
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| 2 | Regional Instruments |
Strengthen the enabling environment for the
coordinated management and development
of water resources
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| 3 | Management & support |
Develop the capacites of the SADC Water
Division to ensure the sustainable and
coordinated management of the RSAP
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| 4 |
Communication &Awareness |
Raise awareness and share information on
integrated water resources management
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| 5 | Research & education |
Develop the skills and knowledge of water
professionals on integrated water resources
management
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| 6 | Stakeholder Participation |
Involve stakeholders in the management of
transboundary water resources
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| 7 | Infrastructure project preparation |
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Prepare bankable water infrastructure
projects
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| 8 | Resource Mobilisation for Infrastructure Developlment |
Improve grant and investment infrastructure
funding
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| 10 | Water Supply& sanitation |
Improve access to water supply and
sanitation services
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| 11 | Ground water management & development |
Improve coordination over the management
of groundwater resources
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| 12 | Water Economics | Account for the contribution of water to the economy. | |||
| 13 | Hydrology & Basin management |
Develop planning mechanisms and operational
procedures for managing water resources
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| 14 | Environmental water management | Institutionalize water quality Managemenyt in the region. | |||
| Social Development | 9 | Infrastructure pilot projects |
Demonstrate the benefits of joint infrastructure
development initiaves.
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| Climate Change | 15 | Integrate climate change adaptation into water resources planning and management. | |||
| TOTAL | 15 | ||||
