SADC seeks €100 million to drive regional water plan

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), Regional Strategic Action Plan (RSAP) on Integrated Water Resources Management and Development for
2021–2025, has an estimated financing need of €100 million.

Currently, the SADC region is implementing the fifth phase of the plan which was adopted by SADC Ministers of Water in December 2021, SADC authorities have said.

According to a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday by the SADC Secretariat, the plan emphasises the importance of a dedicated and strategic resource mobilisation plan to support its effective and sustainable implementation.

Developed with support from the SADC Transboundary Water Management project, the plan is intended to serve not only the current one but also future RSAPs, thereby contributing to long-term water security across the SADC region.

“The Resource Mobilisation Plan includes a detailed funding landscape analysis, a gap
assessment, and clearly defined roles and responsibilities,” the SADC Secretariat said.

It stated that the plan was founded on four strategic pillars namel the Integrated Water Resources Management, Transformative Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus Approaches, the Conjunctive Use of Surface and Groundwater, and Environmental, Social, and Governance Principles.

Additionally, the SADC Secretariat has announced that Zambia will host the SADC Resource Mobilisation and Transboundary Water Investment Workshop in Lusaka, Zambia from July 24 to July 25, 2025.

It said this would be done in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, and with the support from the German government through the SADC GIZ Transboundary Water Management project and the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa.

The event will be held under the theme: “Scaling Up Transboundary Water Investments and Resource Mobilisation to Unlock Economic Growth, Industrial Transformation and Climate Resilience in the SADC.”

“The primary objective of the workshop is to validate the Draft Resource Mobilisation Plan for the SADC Regional Strategic Action Plan (RSAP) on Integrated Water Resources Management,” the SADC Secretariat said.

It stated that the validation exercise aims to ensure that the plan aligns with strategic goals and priorities, is feasible, and is both effective and implementable.

In addition, the workshop will focus on enhancing cooperation, capacity building, and financing mechanisms for shared water resources.

The SADC Secretariat stated that it also aimed to strengthen resource mobilisation capacities, provide participants with practical tools and strategies for securing funding for transboundary water projects.

“It will also improve the financial landscape for water investments through public, private, and international funding sources,” it said.

The validation exercise builds on the outcomes of previous meetings of the SADC Water Resources Technical Committee, including reviews of the draft Resource Mobilisation Plan held alongside the Regional Water Policy reviews in December 2024 and April 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.