MUNITY SOUTHERN M CO AF T VE N DE LOPM EN CA RI RE REGIONAL STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN IV (2016 - 2020) T U W TO AR D SA C O M MO N FU 1.1. BACKGROUND The water resources of the SADC region play a vital and important role in the maintenance of the rich diversity of the region’s natural ecosystems, and for the region’s sustainable economic and social development. The SADC Member States adopted the Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses in 2000, in recognition of the need for a regional legal framework to guide sustainable resource management and development. The principles and requirements of the Revised Protocol are operationalised through the SADC Regional Strategic Action Plans (RSAPs), which are being implemented in a phased manner to reflect the evolving needs and capacities of the region. SADC is now implementing its fourth RSAP. 1.2 WATER COOPERATION QUOTIENT The Water Cooperation Quotient is a barometer used to measure the extent of cooperation in a watercourse, taking into account amongst other things, prospects of war, peace and stability. In a nutshell, it can be linked to the degree of unlocking the potential of water to be used as an engine and catalyst for development. The Strategic Foresight Group (SFG), an international independent evaluation group, has assessed the water cooperation quotient in 184 countries and their 205 shared watercourses. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has been rated highest in the world – with a score of 100 out of 100. The findings of the SFG with regards to the prospects of war, peace and stability in a watercourse are in line with the findings of Professor Jon Martin Trondalen of the Compass Foundation, in his book titled “Conflict Prevention and Peace Dividends through Cooperation on Transboundary Water Management in SADC (2011).” Despite such a refreshing recognition from international communities, there is still need to sustain the cooperation efforts and interventions that will contribute towards achievement of the main goals of SADC. 1.3 THE SADC VISION AND THE SADC WATER VISION The formulation and objectives of the RSAPs are to contribute towards the realisation of both the SADC water vision and the broader SADC vision. The UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 which seeks to “ensure the 1 availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”, relates well to the SADC Water Vision. Figure 1.1 depicts the SADC and the SADC water sector visions. FIGURE 1.1: THE SADC VISION AND THE SADC WATER VISION 1.4 STATUS OF WATER RESOURCES AVAILABILITY AND SANITATION PROVISION IN SADC MEMBER STATES The current status of water resources availability, utilisation and related infrastructure development in the SADC region can be summarised as follows: • Annual rainfall significantly varies in quantity and distribution, and consequently, water resources availability and usage across the SADC region also varies (Figures 1.2 and 1.3). • Fifteen major river basins are shared by at least two countries. • Of the water resources currently abstracted, 77 percent is used for irrigation, 18 percent for domestic purposes whilst five percent is used by industry (see Figure 1.3). • Seventy percent of SADC’s rural population relies on groundwater supplies. • If the storage of Kariba and Cahora Bassa dams is included, 14 percent of the total annual renewable water resources (ARWR) in the SADC region are currently stored for various uses, an amount which is very low compared to 70-90 percent in most industrialised countries (SADC 2012). • There is about 50 million hectares of irrigable land available within the SADC region of which only 3.4 million hectares (seven percent) is currently irrigated (SADC 2012). • Of SADC’s population of about 280 million people, 40 percent of the population has no access to an adequate safe drinking water supply, whilst 60 percent has no access to adequate sanitation services. A Vehicle to implement the Water Component of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP)