|
Geneva,
10 – 11 December
| IV.
Ongoing Efforts in Regional Co-operation in the Water
Sector |
As
suggested above, the 1995 Protocol on shared water course
systems and the establishment of the SADC Water Sector
Co-ordination Unit are preliminary indications that SADC has
begun the process of seeking regional solutions to water
resources issues. It
is useful to highlight other tangible examples where regional
co-operation within the water sector is already under way:
1)
Based on the recommendations of the Sub-Saharan Africa
Hydrological Assessment, the SADC-HYCOS (Hydrological Cycle
Observing System) project has been prepared with assistance
from by the EU and World Meteorological Organisation. The goal
of this project is capacity building for the development of
regional water resources information systems.
One of the products will be a network of national
hydrology and water resources computerised databases -- all
linked to allow collection, processing, storage, retrieval and
dissemination of information in a form ready for use in water
resources planning, development and management.
2)
The Southern African FRIEND (Flow Regimes from
International Experimental and Network Data) project is
increasing regional co-operation essential for optimal use of
water resources. FRIEND
is supporting a common hydrological database architecture
standard for national hydrological services in seven SADC
states; human resources development through participation in
FRIEND and through regional training centres; and research
into the spatial and temporal characteristics of extreme
hydrological events.
3)
A program for cost-effective freshwater quality
monitoring is being developed within the UNEP/WHO/Global
Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) water programme in
co-operation with WMO and the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
This programme, which is already active in several
regions, is providing education, logistical support and a
flexible delivery system.
The key strategy is targeted water quality monitoring,
adapted to each country's priorities and needs.
4)
The WaterNet project is currently being developed at
the University of Zimbabwe, in Harare, with support from,
among others, the Netherlands and Swedish governments. This is
a regional initiative which offers graduate-level training in
water resources management, as well as research and
information exchange. WaterNet
is an outgrowth of the SADC/EU Conference on Management of
Shared River Basins recommendation for regional capacity
building.
5)
The Lesotho Highlands Water Project, a joint
undertaking of Lesotho and South Africa, is currently the
largest infrastructure project in the region and is designed
to meet the growing demands for water in the Vaal river
system, and to generate hydropower in Lesotho.
6)
The Zambezi River Basin Action Plan (ZACPLAN) dates
back to 1985 when it was established to foster regional
co-operation among the Zambezi basin states for
environmentally sound management of the common water
resources. One of
ZACPLAN’s projects, Zambezi River Basin Action Plan Project
(ZACPRO 2), was the model from which the 1995 SADC Protocol on
Shared Watercourse Systems was constructed.
7)
The
World Bank is supporting on-going/proposed Water Resources
Management activities/projects in several SADC member
countries (e.g. Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Angola,
Lesotho). Almost all these activities have international
waters components with regional implications.
Fuller
details of donor supported activities in the
sub-region are
outlined in Annex 5.
ZACPRO2
was a project for up-to-date compilation of national laws
related to the environment and the development of regional
legislation for the management of the Zambezi River Basin.
Issues
Affecting Regional Water Resources Development
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