{"id":3818,"date":"2021-10-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-10T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/southern-africa\/news\/9th-sadc-rbos-swis-workshop-investments-key-for-inclusive-and-collaborative-transboundary-water-financing-and-industrial-development\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T16:12:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:12:26","slug":"9th-sadc-rbos-swis-workshop-investments-key-for-inclusive-and-collaborative-transboundary-water-financing-and-industrial-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/southern-africa\/news\/9th-sadc-rbos-swis-workshop-investments-key-for-inclusive-and-collaborative-transboundary-water-financing-and-industrial-development\/","title":{"rendered":"9th SADC RBOs\/SWIs Workshop: Investments key for inclusive and collaborative transboundary water financing and industrial development"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Financing and cooperation around transboundary water resources are critical for poverty alleviation, economic growth, and sustainable industrial development in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region<\/i>. This was the main outcome of the 9th SADC River Basin Organisations\/ Shared Watercourse Institutions (RBOs\/SWIs) Workshop<\/a> held virtually on 22-23 September 2021, under the theme \u201c<\/b>Promoting Inclusive and Collaborative Transboundary Water Financing for Sustainable Industrial Development\u201d.<\/b><\/p>\n

The event was co-convened by the SADC Secretariat <\/a> and the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM),<\/a> with support from Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA)<\/a>, with financial support from  the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Resilient Waters Program<\/a>, and the SADC-GIZ Transboundary Water Management in SADC (GIZ-TWM)<\/a> Programme.<\/p>\n

Lack of financing for water resources a key challenge in SADC<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cPoverty remains a huge, complex challenge in the SADC region and is exacerbated by hunger, malnutrition, gender inequalities<\/a>, exploitation, marginalisation, high morbidity, HIV and AIDS<\/a>, climate change and variability extremes such as floods and droughts, and the current covid-19 pandemic,\u201d said Honourable Mike Mposha, Zambia\u2019s Minister of Water Development and Sanitation<\/a>, during the event proceedings.<\/p>\n

\u201cLack of inclusive financing arrangements for transboundary water resources development and management at the shared watercourse and regional levels continues to be a hindrance in SADC\u2019s efforts to alleviate poverty, which is a key priority in the SADC\u2019s agenda,\u201d added Hon. Mposha.<\/p>\n

The Workshop<\/a> provided a platform for close to 250 participants, who include representatives of RBOs\/SWIs, SADC Member States, regional institutions, international development partners, water and other related key sectors (energy, food security, trade, etc) to share experiences, lessons, and insights on financing transboundary water resources development and management. Funding agencies, such as the African Development Bank( AfDB)<\/a>, the World Bank<\/a>, the German Development Bank (KfW),<\/a> who are funders of the SADC Regional Fund for Water Infrastructure and Basic Sanitation<\/a> and the SADC-GIZ Transboundary Water Management in SADC (GIZ-TWM)<\/a> Programme \u2013 offered perspectives into the various financing opportunities for water resources management.<\/p>\n

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 Participants at the 9th<\/sup> SADC RBOs\/SWIs Workshop<\/i><\/p>\n

Water development central to economic development <\/b><\/p>\n

Central to discussions at the Workshop were the  economic linkages created by water to other key growth sectors in SADC.<\/p>\n

\u201cWater is catalytic in supporting the regional value chains towards enhancing industrialisation and food security in the regionally integrating SADC community, \u201csaid Dr. Patrice Kabeya, Senior Programme Officer- Water Division in the SADC Directorate for Infrastructure and Services.<\/a> \u201cIt plays a critical role in driving agriculture value chains, mineral beneficiation value chains, and tourism value chains\u201d.<\/p>\n

Dr. Kabeya underscored the need to ensure the viability and sustainability of regional value chains \u2013 as a means of upscaling productive capacities for inclusive and sustainable industrial development.<\/p>\n

Accelerated Water Financing in the Transboundary Water Arena<\/strong> <\/p>\n

In presenting his Keynote speech, Mr. Cecil Nundwe – Principal Water Resources Management Officer African Development Bank (AfDB), commended international cooperating partners (ICPs) for financing transboundary water resources management and transboundary water infrastructure development as well as funding the development of RBOs\/ SWIs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe financing of transboundary water resources management and transboundary water infrastructure development has been lagging behind for the past 50 years,\u201d said Mr. Nundwe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere has been significant financial support from ICPs in funding various RBOs\/SWIs activities which include the creation of these basin institutions, water resources management, water infrastructure development, and the creation of information sharing systems within the basins.\u201d He urged riparian states to take ownership of basin initiatives and commit financial resources towards the operation and maintenance of their basins.<\/p>\n

9th<\/sup> SADC RBOs\/SWIs Workshop Session Breakdown<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cThe workshop was delivered through several sessions, consisting of different styles, which include plenary, panel discussions, parallel, and interactive sessions with the funders,\u201d said Ms. Leonissah Munjoma, acting Executive Secretary of ZAMCOM. The main outcomes of the sessions are outlined below.<\/p>\n

Session 3: Unpacking the 9th<\/sup> SADC RBOs\/SWIs theme through the Background paper<\/b><\/p>\n

Dr. Michael Tumbare, from the University of Zimbabwe, presented the background paper. Participants concurred on the need to accelerate inclusive infrastructure development as a way of increasing preparedness and resilience to the now frequent extreme weather events (floods and droughts), disease outbreaks affecting both humans and livestock, all exacerbated by climate change and climate variability.<\/p>\n

Session 4: <\/b>Collaborative planning for joint financing of sustainable transboundary RBOs\/SWIs<\/b><\/p>\n

River basin organisations shared experiences on collaborative planning and joint financing, with a particular focus on illustrating how collaboration contributed to addressing challenges. Mr. Lenka Thamae, Executive Secretary for the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM),<\/a> presented the case of the Lesotho-Botswana Water Transfer (L-BWT) Scheme<\/a> as an example of good neighbourliness and the important role that RBOs play in catalysing water investment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough the L-BWT Scheme, water will be supplied by Lesotho to Botswana for livelihoods and economic activities,\u201d said Mr. Thamae. The project will also increase climate resilience and long-term security of water supply for communities in Botswana, Lesotho, and South Africa.<\/p>\n

Parallel Session 5: Enhancing transboundary groundwater investments for resilient water services and livelihoods<\/b><\/p>\n

The challenges facing Transboundary Aquifer (TBA) Management within the SADC region are:<\/p>\n