Awareness and Communication Strategy To facilitate this, there is a need to establish and strengthen mechanism for research communication and the link between researchers and communication intermediaries such as communicators, learning alliances, educators and the media. Such mechanism could include the establishment of the Information and Communications Specialist Reference Group for the SADC Water Sector comprising the media, communication officers, and educators. This network should be proactive in engaging with the researchers through such relevant forums as the annual Regional Water Symposium and through following up on the products of such initiatives as WATERNET and WARFSA. 11.2.5 Institutional Support Policy framework and institutional arrangements to support the strategy This strategy is guided by SADC’s desires to improve the availability of information to the peoples of the region as expressed through the adoption of the Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport in 2001. In order to implement the Protocol on Culture, Information and Sports and advance the cause of its agenda, SADC developed the Communications and Promotional Strategy. Implementation of this broader SADC Communication and Promotion Strategy will create an environment that ensures increased access to SADC information by all its Member States and its cooperating partners. This environment will be conducive to the implementation of the thematic strategies such as this one for the Water Sector. The regional strategic and policy instruments on water such as the Regional Water Policy, the Regional Water Strategy (RWS); and the Regional Strategic Action Plan (RSAP), (RWP), provide a number of awareness–related statements, promises and intentions. Mechanisms for implementing these will be at the core of this Awareness and Communication Strategy. SADC Water Division, guided by the Water Resources Technical Committee will facilitate and coordinate the implementation of this Strategy. Member States and River Basin Organizations through their strategies and implementation plans will take lead in the implementation. The Water Division will work closely with the SADC Corporate Communications Unit who will provide linkages with the SADC National Media Coordinators. NGOs - such as the Global Water Partnership and regional media bodies - media houses and the private sector that are active in public information dissemination will be called upon to play an important role in the implementation of some aspects of this Strategy. The Communicators’ Forum for the SADC Water Sector comprising the media, communication officers, and educators will be established to connect the implementers of this Strategy both at national and regional levels. Page 51