Project title
Project sponsors
Participating countries
Objectives
Institutional Reforms for RBOs, River/Water Authorities and Utilities (Project GP‐3)
SADC Water Division
All SADC RBOs, river/water authorities and utilities
This project's objective is to study the pros and cons of changing the mandates of
existing RBOs to gear them for joint infrastructure development or for SPVs to be set
up within the River Basin for planning, developing, managing and operating joint
infrastructure in the SADC region.
Project description
It can be premised that the intentions of the SADC Revised Protocol on Shared
Watercourses are for Shared Watercourse Institutions to be sufficiently empowered
to manage the shared watercourse, bearing in mind the definition of "managing a
shared watercourse", which has provisions for infrastructure development,
operation and management and for protecting the watercourse's biodiversity.
Currently, all the RBOs in the SADC region are not focused on infrastructure
development. Instead, they have an investigative and advisory mandate with the
emphasis being more on determining an overall management system for the basin
that balances socio‐economic development needs with the need for protecting the
basin’s biodiversity e.g. OKACOM, ORASECOM, LIMCOM and ZAMCOM. The SADC
institutions that have a mandate for infrastructure development, management and
operation were created as Special Project Vehicles (SPVs) to execute particular
projects, e.g. KOBWA, ZRA and LHDA. Against this background, it is recommended
that in the river basins where there is a significant development potential, the “core
business” of the RBOs should be oriented towards the preparation, development,
implementation, management and operation of the SADC's Water Sector RIDMP
projects.
Expected results
The SADC RBOs will have the legal and financial capacity to raise funds independent
of the watercourse states, and will have the mandate for infrastructure development,
management and operation over and above their current investigative and advisory
roles. Where these arrangements cannot be instituted, then SPVs can be created for
infrastructure development, operation and management.
Ongoing related activities in the The SADC Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses mandates the RBOs and
region
watercourse institutions to manage the river basins in their jurisdiction. SPVs have
been created in the past and have successfully implemented, managed and operated
joint infrastructure. Examples are KOBWA, ZRA and LHWC.
Description of national plan to the Member States, in their own right, where they have joint projects can create such
project
mandated RBOs or SPVs.
Status
The project can be considered to be in Phase 3 of the ICA Project Development
Phases.
Next steps
The project proponent is the SADC Water Division, which will appoint a suitable
consultant. The ToR and appointment of the consultant can be done in early 2013, in
time for recommendations to be submitted by mid‐2013 for decisions to be
appropriately made by end of 2013.
Business model
This is a capacity building project.
Main parties in place
SADC Water Division, the SADC RBOs, river/water authorities and utilities.
Main parties to be procured
Possible project financiers are Sida, DANIDA and GIZ.
Project challenges
The major project challenges foreseen are the timely sourcing of project finances and
resistance to change from existing RBOs and their principals.
Project documentation available
The SADC 1st RBO Workshop Report of 2007
Intervention requiring financing
Project to be presented for grant financing during the planned 1st SADC Infrastructure
Investment Summit and Conference to be held in the last quarter of 2012.
Revenues for financing repayment This is an institutional reform project and grant finances should be sought.
Estimated total cost
The estimated total cost for the project is US$0.1 million.
Execution period
2013 (12 months) for the consultant’s assessment and successful sourcing of grant
funds in 2012. Thereafter, the mandates could be modified or SPVs created.
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