Zambezi River Basin

Strategic area 1

Strategic area 2

Water Management Strategic area 3

Infrastructure Development

Water Governance

Strategic objective 1

Operational objective 1.1

Operational objective 1.2

Operational objective 1.3

Prepare bankable water infrastructure projects

Develop and implement integrated planning processes

Strenghten the enabling environment

Capacity Development

for regional governance

Strategic objective 2

Operational objective 2.1

Operational objective 2.2

Operational objective 2.3

Increase water storage capacities to improve climate resilience

Reduce the risk and impacts associated with climate change

Develop a common understanding on the risks and impacts of climate change

Climate Change Adaptation

Strategic objective 3

Operational objective 3.1

Operational objective 3.2

Operational objective 3.3

Improve livelihood in local communities

Promote the equitable and reasonable utilisation of water resources

Empower local communities and water utilities

Social Development

Figure 5.2: RSAP III Strategic Framework.

Three objectives on capacity development, climate change adaptation and social development are realised within each of the strategic areas as illustrated in Figure 5.2 (SADC 2011a). RSAP III Programmes RSAP III has 15 programmes, including Infrastructure and Project Preparation, Water Supply and Sanitation, Communication and Awareness, Research and Education, Groundwater Management, and Environmental Water Management. The formation of the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) falls within the programme on River Basin Organisations, which seeks to strengthen the organisational and institutional mechanisms for river basin management. The priority intervention areas include: Development and strengthening of River Basin Organizations, Development of RBO guidelines, Networking and sharing of best practices, Establishment of Basin-wide stakeholder forums to address issues of transboundary water management, and Training of RBO representatives (SADC 2011a). Climate Change Adaptation: A Strategy for theWater Sector A Climate Change Adaptation Strategy was developed in 2011 as part of fulfilling the RSAP III programme on Climate Change and Adaptation. The main goal of the strategy is to improve climate resilience in Southern Africa through integrated and adapted water resources management at regional, river basin and local levels (SADC 2011b). Its objective as envisaged in the strategy document, is to promote further the application of integrated water resources management as a priority tool to reduce climate vulnerability and to ensure that water management systems are well adapted to cope with increased climate variability.

The Strategy which presents measures to be taken over the next 20 years, recommends that work on adaptation should start immediately to benefit the sectors under present climatic conditions (SADC 2011b). to reduce vulnerability against actual or expected climatic stimuli and their effects on society, the economy and the environment (UNFCCC 2006). The strategic framework to climate change adaptation is transboundary in nature requiring adjustment of societies and economies at different levels, from local, river basin and regional levels. The framework emphasises that adaptation is not only a matter of water management, but an issue of governance as well as infrastructure development. While it involves disaster preparedness, the strategy should also provide recommendations on ways to respond to and recover from climate-related extreme events such as floods and droughts (SADC 2011b). Indigenous knowledge Local communities have been dealing with climate variability for generations and have learned to adapt their lives and livelihoods to the water cycle. Adaptation to climate change refers to the capacity of natural and human systems

New adaptation measures for the water sector must build on such knowledge.

IWRM Strategy for the Zambezi River Basin The IWRM Strategy for the Zambezi River Basin was formulated within the framework of the Zambezi River Action Plan (ZACPLAN) Project 6 Phase 2 (SADC and ZRA 2007). ZACPLAN was an initiative of SADC aimed at

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