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 • • • FIGURE 1.4: SELECTED BENCHMARKS/INDICATORS FOR COMPARISON OF SADC WATER SECTOR’S STATUS WITH OTHER COMPARATORS. (SOURCE: SADC 2012.) • 1.5 CONTEXT The RSAP IV builds on the work of the previous RSAPs, with a continued focus on infrastructure development. The successful implementation of the RSAP IV will contribute towards, and assist SADC Member States to realise the achievement of higher level regional, continental and international plans, strategies and goals such as the SADC Treaty Goals; the Water Chapter of the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP); the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA); and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). • • 1.5.1 RATIONALE FOR A REGIONAL APPROACH TO BASIN MANAGEMENT The SADC regional approach has shown great success in facilitating negotiations on river basin management. All shared river basins – 13 located fully within the SADC Region – have adopted a cooperation framework in compliance with the SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourses. Key features and advantages of the regional approach include: • Reference framework: Regional instruments such as the SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourses provide a framework and starting point for the negotiation of river basin agreements. • Scope of cooperation: The adoption of a regional approach extends the scope of cooperation beyond 3 • • the water sector and provides more opportunities to share benefits and trade-offs amongst Member States. Honest broker: When requested by Member States, the SADC Secretariat can act as a neutral mediator to facilitate negotiations in river basins. Harmonisation: The alignment of regional and basin governing instruments facilitates the sharing of best practices and lessons learnt amongst RBOs/SWIs. Accountability and responsibility: RBOs/SWIs are not only accountable to their respective Riparian States and funding agencies but also to SADC for reporting purposes as stipulated in the Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses. Competiveness: While the spirit of cooperation is promoted amongst RBOs/SWIs, they also have to achieve results. RBOs/SWIs performing poorly are less likely to receive support compared to the most successful ones. Visibility: International Cooperating Partners (ICPs) supporting SADC are in fact supporting 15 countries, despite the level of their intervention (e.g. one specific river basin). Through the regional approach, the outputs (lessons learnt) of such support are shared with the other basins. This increases visibility at regional, river basin and national levels. ICP coordination: The information on all activities supported by ICPs is shared with all stakeholders to ensure equitable and efficient distribution of financial resources as well as to avoid duplication, conflict and cherry-picking, leaving some basins unfunded. Sharing of Best Practices and Experiences: It is generally difficult for one basin to claim they are doing better and would like to share with other basins. Facilitating such a process by neutral entity with mandate given by the Protocol makes it much easier. Implementation of Nexus related interventions: To fully realise the role of water as an engine and catalyst for development, the nexus approach is vital whereby other economic development sectors (Agriculture, Trade, Tourism, Finance etc) complete value chain leading to realisation of the SADC goals. A regional approach in this is crucial considering that economic undertakings are not aligned with the basin boundaries. A Vehicle to implement the Water Component of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP)