9. 9.1 REGIONAL WATER RESOURCES INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK SADC Secretariat 9.1.1. Policy: The SADC Secretariat is responsible for promoting and coordinating the implementation of the Regional Water Policy and Strategy and Protocols for the water sector, in cooperation with other sectors such as health, energy, agriculture, tourism and environment. The SADC Secretariat has mandated the Water Division in the Directorate of Infrastructure and Services as the “custodian” of the Regional Water Policy and Strategy. As such, the Water Division is primarily responsible for promoting, coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses, as well as encouraging and guiding regional harmonisation of national policy and legislation. SADC through its RISDP requires each “intervention area/programme” (including water) to develop a detailed implementation plan that includes specific time bound targets and strategies, implementation and management roles and benchmarking. The RSAP currently represents the SADC Water Sector‟s implementation plan. The SADC Secretariat will expand the RSAP to reflect a programmatic approach to implementing the Regional Water Policy and Strategy, based on water sector priorities and linkages to other SADC sectors such as health, energy, agriculture and tourism. 9.1.2. Policy: The SADC Secretariat is responsible for supporting SWCI and assessing their compliance with and implementation of the Revised Protocol The Secretariat (through the Water Division) is responsible for promoting and monitoring the implementation of the (Revised) Protocol, which is the framework under which SWCIs operate. Responsibilities / functions of the SADC Secretariat (Water Division) include: o Development and facilitate the implementation of the Regional Water Policy and Strategy (RWPS) o Develop short term regional strategies and Implementation plans o Monitor the implementation of the Revised)Protocol on Shared Watercourses and the RWPS. 9.1.3. Policy: The SADC o Develop a monitoring and evaluation system of Secretariat is accountable to regional water programme. the Member States through o Establish, coordinate and strengthen regional networks to carry forward water sector the Council of Ministers and programmes shall ensure direct o Mobilise or facilitate the mobilisation of coordination with National financial and technical resources to carry out Water Departments water sector programmes o Report to SADC Council of Minister through the Integrated Committee of Ministers (ICM) on the With SADC restructuring, the activities of the Water Sector. SADC Water Division is part of SADC Secretariat, which is the executive arm o Develop and maintain a regional water database of the Council of Ministers. A regional water liaison body must enable capturing all key information required Member in the States Departments of Water to guide themanagement SADC Secretariat and intothesupport of Water Resources region. the implementation of the Regional Water Policy, Strategy and Protocol. - 44 -