TRANSBOUNDARY WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN SADC: IMPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT

Transcription

1 TRANSBOUNDARY WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN SADC: IMPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT PRESENTATION AT THE IHA CONSULTATIONS WORKSHOP, 4 TH SEPTEMBER 2008, ZAMBIA BY Phera S. RAMOELI Senior Program Manager Water SADC Secretariat, Gaborone, Botswana

2 BACKGROUND TO SADC WATER PROGRAM Water agreed as an area of intervention in 1996 Established a coordination institution in 1997; To guide the process of cooperation and regional integration a number of protocols based on the principles of the treaty were negotiated agreed and adopted; The Protocol on shared watercourses was adopted in 1995, came into force in 1998, revised in 2000; Revised Protocol came into force in September 2003;

3 THE SADC PROTOCOL AND TRANSBOUNDARY WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT The Main Objectives of the Protocol is to: Foster closer cooperation for judicious, sustainable and coordinated management, protection and utilization of shared watercourses and advance the SADC agenda of regional integration and poverty alleviation The Protocol seeks to advance the sustainable, equitable and reasonable utilization of shared watercourses; Gives the right to use coupled with the duty to protect the watercourse; Obligate parties to notify each other on planned measures;

4 Protocol on Shared Water Courses Respect for sovereignty in the utilization of shared watercourses: Right to utilize Vs the obligation to protect stipulates use to cover but not limited to, agricultural, domestic, industrial, and navigational uses; Rules of general or customary international law, community of interest and equitable utilization; Maintaining proper balance between development and environment protection and conservation; Cooperation on joint projects and studies; Information and data sharing; Equitable and reasonable utilization of shared watercourse systems: Several aspects must be taken into consideration in order to achieve equity and reasonable sharing

5 SHARED WATERCOURSE INSTITUTIONS: THE ZAMCOM The establishment of shared watercourse organizations is provided in article 5 (3) of the protocol; These are seen as instruments in the implementation of the Protocol; Specific River basin Agreements are negotiated and concluded by parties in shared Watercourse; ZAMCOM was agreed in 2004 and is currently under ratification; Upholds the Principles and Provisions of the Protocol but contextualize them to specifics of the Zambezi Basin

6 THE SADC WATER PROGRAM: RSAP The regional water program is defined in the Regional Strategic Action Plan on Integrated Water Resources Management and Development; First developed in 1998, implemented over 5 years ; Reviewed in 2004 and revised in 2005 into a more focused RSAP2

7 THE RSAP Vision Effective and dependable framework contributing to poverty eradication, regional integration and socioeconomic development in a sustainable manner Mission Provide a sustainable enabling environment, leadership and coordination in water resources strategic planning, use and infrastructure development through application of integrated water resources management at member state, regional, river basin and community level

8 RSAP 2 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES Based on the vision and mission. 1. Maintain and sustain an enabling environment for regional water resources development and management 2. Provide a framework for sustainable, effective and efficient planning and management of shared watercourses at regional and related national levels 3. Promote and support strategic infrastructure development for regional integration, socio-economic development and poverty alleviation 4. Develop, promote and facilitate best practices regarding effective participation by various individual and institutional stakeholders in water resource development and management, including women, youth and other disadvantaged groups 5. Build and strengthen human and institutional capacity for sustainable management of water resources at basin, national and regional level

9 RSAP 2 Conceptual Framework Capacity Building Skills Training Academic IWRM Training and Research Resource Assessment Monitoring Planning Operation Support to WD Strengthening RBOs Implementation of Protocol Stakeholder Participation Implementation of Policy and Strategy Water Governance Infrastructure Energy (HYDROPOWER) Agriculture, Food Security + Rural Livelihoods Water Supply & Sanitation

10 THE REGIONAL WATER POLICY Provide a frame work for cooperation on Water Resources Management and Development at National, Transboudary Levels (Shared Watercourses); A Strategy for its implementation has been Developed and approved by ICM June Has a chapter dedicated to dams and development particularly multi-purpose which include hydropower

11 WATER POLICY CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK SADC Regional Integration and Poverty Eradication G O A L Industrial Development Food Security Access to Water & Sanitation Water for Peace Energy Security Development without compromising the Environment Safety from Disasters O B J E C T I V E S Integrated Water Resources Management A P P R O A C H Institutions at national and regional levels IWRM Plans Capacity Building Conflict Resolution Stakeholder Participation Environmental Management Water Resources Information Management T O O L S

12 Regional Strategic Water Infrastructure Development Program (RSWIDP) Background The need for infrastructure development in the region was already identified during the formulation of RSAP Feeling from MS that development of physical infrastructure that makes a difference to peoples lives was needed MDG s and adoption of IWRM were the principal drivers RSWIDP build on the RSAP-IWRM progress and give content as well as complement and sustain the enabling environment being established

13 Regional Strategic Water Infrastructure Development Programme Schematic

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15 ZAMCOM AGREEMENT: PRINCIPLES principle of sustainable development; principle of sustainable utilization; principle of prevention of harm; principle of precaution; principle of inter-generational equity; principle of assessment of trans-frontier impacts; principle of co-operation; and principle of equitable and reasonable utilisation.

16 CONCLUDING REMARKS Water is critical for all our development initiatives as a means to an end therefore a driver; An enabling environment is critical for success and sustainability of water programmes should be maintained and natured; At a regional level our interventions should be strategic and add value to ongoing member states initiatives;

17 CONCLUDING REMARKS: HYDROPOWER SUSTAINABILITY PROTOCOL Hydropower development is central to the water program approach for sustainable energy security; The Proposed Hydropower Sustainability Protocol is Very comprehensive and detailed however will need capacity building for effective implementation. There is a need to broaden the scope of consultation to include transboundary stakeholders particularly on shared watercourses

18 CONCLUSIONS Water resources in SADC are seen as an opportunity for cooperation and peace rather than cause for conflict; River basin approach has been adopted as an implementation mechanism for regional projects; All other sectors and role players should take part in the development of our shared water resources; With a multiplicity of shared watercourses in SADC it is imperative that there is collective and collaborative to water development and management;