WaterSan Perspective Reporter
March 15, 2015
The Water Sector of the Southern African Development (SADC) has embarked on holding of three-day-long SADC National Water Weeks in each Member State to gather input towards the formulation of the fourth phase of the Regional Water Programme.
According to Barbara Lopi, Communications and Awareness Expert for the Water Sector at SADC Secretariat, the SADC National Water Weeks aim to demonstrate to Member States the value of their cooperation under the SADC umbrella by clearly articulating the benefits each Member State has enjoyed in the three phases of the Water Programme since 1999.
The SADC Water Programme has been implemented in five year phases normally called Regional Strategic Action Plan (RSAP) on Integrated Water Resources Management and Development. The first phase of RSAP commenced its implementation in 1999 and ended in 2004. The second phase was implemented from 2005 to 2010, while the third phase runs from 2011 to 2015.
Jointly organised by SADC and the Ministry responsible for Water in the Member States in collaboration with the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa office, the SADC National Water Weeks will be held between March and July 2015.
The first Water Week took place in Dar es -Salaam Tanzania from 11 – 13 March 2015, with the next two being in Malawi and Zimbabwe from 17 – 18 March and from 18 – 20 March respectively.
Held under the theme “From Vision to Action”, the Water Weeks will also sensitize Journalists to report on water issues as well as empower the youths to participate in water programmes and development through media and youth workshops according to Lopi.
The SADC National Water Weeks are funded by the Government of Germany in delegated cooperation with the Governments of Australia (AUSaid) and the United Kingdom (UKaid) managed by GIZ.
