REGIONAL INDIC ATIVE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PL AN In collaboration with the Global Water Partnership, a 3 3 3.3.5.3 "Southern African Vision for Water, Life and the Challenges in Current Policies and Strategies Environment in the 21st Century " was developed and One of the most pressing challenges is the development formed the basis of the Africa Vision. It also shaped quite of a policy and strategy that will not only provide a substantially the global vision on water adopted at the 2nd longer-term perspective for the development and World Water Forum held at The Hague, Netherlands in management of the Region's water resources, but also March 2000. The vision of "Equitable and sustainable guide and give strategic direction to short-medium term utilisation of water for social, environmental justice, and interventions such as the RSAP. The Southern African economic benefits for present and future generations" is Vision for Water, Life and the Environment, together with supported by and made much more explicit by sub-visions. its sub-visions should form the basis for the These are: social and economic development; equitable development of the long-term water policy and strategy access to water of an acceptable quantity and quality; document. Other issues to be tackled are the inclusion of proper sanitation for all and safe waste management; food research and technology development as an additional security for all; energy security; sustainable environment; security from disasters; and integrated water resources development and management. area of priority; the formulation of strategic regional infrastructure projects/programmes for water storage, transfers, irrigation, drought mitigation and flood control; and the practical operationalisation of the 3.3.5.2 Evaluation of Current Policies and Strategies The Protocol, which aims at the sustainable management, development and utilisation of the region's water resources, and their equitable sharing for the mutual benefit of all, and for the upliftment of the quality of life, is consistent with the broader SADC objectives and Common integrated water resources management approach. The recent development in the global arena that elevated water high on the development agenda, poses new challenges that should address the new targets agreed to at various for a such as the WSSD, the Millennium Development Goals on water supply and sanitation. Agenda. The emphasis on equitable sharing is consistent with the objectives of peace and security, and the strategic priority of conflict prevention. 3.4 FOOD, AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES The RSAP whose aim is to promote the adoption of an management, recognises the role of water as a source of life 3.4.1 OVERVIEW and its use for a variety of purposes including agriculture, The Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) hydro-electric power generation, domestic and industrial cluster comprises the following areas of co-operation: requirements, as well as the maintenance of ecosystems. Food Security, Agricultural Research and Training, Crops, The RSAP, therefore, addresses the SADC strategic priorities Livestock Production and Animal Disease Control, that are targeted at industrialisation, the promotion of Environment and Land Management (ELM), Inland and economic and social infrastructure, developing agriculture, Marine Fisheries, Forestry and Wildlife. In one way or and poverty eradication. Other strategic priorities that are another, most of these areas are related to agriculture and addressed are those that relate to gender sensitivity, human influence its performance. integrated approach to water resources development and resources development, and improving social welfare. Agriculture is a major player in the SADC regional Overall, although the provisions of the Protocol have economy, contributing 35 percent to its gross domestic not been fully implemented, some promising initiatives product. About 70 percent of its people depend on it for are already underway. These include the full development food, income and employment. In addition, agriculture is a of project concept notes into project documents to dominant source of exports in many countries, on average address the seven priority areas of the RSAP, and the contributing about 13 percent to total export earnings and progress being made in the establishment of River Basin about 66 percent to the value of intra-regional trade. For Management Organisations (RBOs). these reasons, the performance of agriculture has a strong