Jointly convened by the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), the AU\/NEPAD Southern African Network of Water Centres of Excellence (AU\/NEPAD SANWATCE), and the Local Organising Committee led by the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, Republic of Zambia, the meeting aims to promote interaction among policymakers, academics, and practitioners from water and related sectors. <\/p>\n
GWPSA 26th WaterNet\/WARFSA\/GWPSA Symposium<\/b> <\/p>\n
As one of the co-conveners for the symposium, GWPSA will be delivering remarks during the opening of the symposium. GWPSA will, among other activities, convene two sessions to share experiences and offer knowledge and learning exchanges under its Global Environment Facility (GEF) projects in the Cuvelai, IncoMaputo, Kunene, and Limpopo basins. Both sessions are being convened in collaboration with the Cuvelai Watercourse Commission (CUVECOM), the Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission (INMACOM), the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM), and other partners.<\/p>\n
Session 1\u2014Waterway Pollution: Building Blocks for a SADC Transboundary Strategy for Healthy Rivers from Source to Sea.<\/b><\/p>\n
Session theme: Water, Ecosystems and the Environment <\/p>\n
Date: Wednesday 29 October 2025 <\/p>\n
Time: 13:45\u201315:45 <\/p>\n
Venue: Meeting Space 4
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Conveners<\/b><\/p>\n
Cuvelai Watercourse Commission (CUVECOM), Permanent Joint Technical Commission (PJTC), Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) supported by UNDP-GEF, Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA), Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission (INMACOM). <\/p>\n
Session Summary<\/b> <\/p>\n
The session seeks to define collaborative partnership with SADC River Basin Organisations (RBOs), riparian states, and their research and development and cooperation partners, focusing on solutions and financing pathways to inform a practical regional strategy for transboundary rivers, linked to land management and marine ecosystems. <\/p>\n
Most rivers, lakes, wetlands, groundwater systems, and coastal ecosystems in southern Africa are increasingly threatened by pollution from multiple sources, including industrial effluents, mining tailings, untreated wastewater, agricultural runoff, and diffuse land-based pollutants linked to land degradation. Groundwater, which sustains millions of people across the region for domestic use, irrigation, and ecosystem baseflows, is particularly vulnerable to nitrate leaching, pesticide residues, and industrial seepage. Once contaminated, aquifers are costly and often impossible to restore, making prevention and monitoring critical. <\/p>\n
Click here<\/a> to register for the session. <\/p>\n Session 2: Bridging Waters, Bridging Knowledge \u2013 unlocking regional water intelligence towards Integrated Information and Knowledge Management Systems (IKMS) for Source-to-Sea cooperation in the SADC Region.<\/b><\/p>\n <\/b>Session theme: Changing Hydro-Climatic Regimes and Planning Tools for Climate Resilient Development Pathways <\/p>\n Date: Thursday, 30 October 2025 <\/p>\n Time: 13:45\u201315:45 <\/p>\n Venue: Meeting Space 4 <\/p>\n Session summary<\/b> <\/p>\n The session will focus on transitioning from concept to application, ensuring IKMS serve practical planning, governance, and resilience functions. <\/i><\/p>\n Through the session, participants will co-create a strategic pathway with clear, Member State-focused priorities for transforming fragmented information islands, which are RBO Secretariat and Commissions-focused, into a regional water knowledge network that: <\/p>\n Across SADC, countries, River Basin Organisations (RBOs) and partners have invested heavily in developing Decision Support Systems (DSS), Information Management Systems (IMS), Early Warning Systems (EWS), and data repositories \u2013 collectively referred to as Information and Knowledge Management Systems (IKMS). These have created a mosaic of valuable but often fragmented \u201cinformation islands.\u201d While many tools sit within the technical remit of the RBOs, their true usefulness depends on how effectively they serve Member States and their institutions in real-world applications such as land use planning, Source-to-Sea application, hazard preparedness, pollution response, and flow regulation. <\/i><\/p>\n\n
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