RE AR D T U W TO REGIONAL STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN IV (2016 - 2020) MUNITY SOUTHERN M CO AF T VE N DE LOPM EN CA RI SA C O M MO N FU PROGRAMME 6: WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE: To enhance sustainable development through people-centred adaptive management of water resources based on IWRM principles. P6.2.2 STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY FOR THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF GROUNDWATER IN SADC PRIORITY INTERVENTIONS There is need to modernize and harmonize legal, policy and regulatory frameworks to address gaps in prevailing institutional groundwater management tools at national and transboundary levels, including in Oceanic States. Activities include: P6.1 SURFACE WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (HYDROLOGY) P6.1.1 BASIN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AND PLANS Basin development plans and strategies need to be developed to outline the priority steps required for the implementation of integrated water resources management at the river basin and Member States levels. Activities include: a) assisting RBOs to develop river basin development strategies and plans to support water resources sharing, management and infrastructure development; b) assisting RBOs to develop management systems; and basin information c) facilitating identification of priority inter-basin projects and undertaking relevant studies. a) providing assistance to Member States to modernise and harmonise laws, policies and regulatory tools through technical assistance to Member States; b) developing guidelines, standards and management tools to access and compare up-to-date management tools; c) strengthening groundwater monitoring and data management systems to support Member States; d) facilitating the integration of groundwater in shared watercourse commissions and agreements through transboundary cooperation; e) organising awareness-raising initiatives on draft UN articles on groundwater among Member States; and P6.2 GROUNDWATER DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT P6.2.1 INSTITUTIONALISING THE SADC GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE f) facilitating consultation on whether and how to incorporate the draft articles in to the existing regional and basin institutional arrangements. The SADC Ground Water Management Institute (GMI) needs to be operationalised to serve as a centre of excellence for groundwater in the region. Activities include: a) mobilising and soliciting finance for SADC GMI including designing small grants schemes for Member states; b) coordinating and administering the SADC GMI; c) developing a project implementation manual, and a monitoring and evaluation framework; d) raising awareness, enhancing knowledge management and communication, including setting up a project website. e) developing a research programme; and f) supporting National Focus Groups (NFGs). A Vehicle to implement the Water Component of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 24