RE AR D T U W TO REGIONAL STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN IV (2016 - 2020) MUNITY SOUTHERN M CO AF T VE N DE LOPM EN CA RI SA C O M MO N FU PROGRAMME 4: CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: To implement the SADC Human Capacity Development Plan for the water sector, strengthen institutions and support research in water on agreed themes PRIORITY INTERVENTIONS • water demand management; • monitoring and evaluation methodologies; • training of citizens on the monitoring and communicating of river water status (refer to Programme P3.2.1.3(a)); and • youth capacity development and training (refer to Programme 3.3.3). P4.1 CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT Capacity development of regional institutions is limited to RBO strengthening and Oceanic States Institutions for Cooperation (OSIC) on water and related matters, covered in Programme 2 above. Capacity development will form a continuum from addressing knowledge gaps into skills and meta-competencies in support of the implementation of the RSAP IV. Waternet will play a leading role in the implementation of the capacity development component of the RSAP IV, as a subsidiary institution of SADC. Other implementing agencies for the regional water programme will be chosen based on their already existing capacity to carry out the implementation. Therefore, this programme focuses on individual capacity development. There is need to ensure that the SADC Water Sector Human Capacity Development Plan is under implementation. Activities include: a) training on the following topics: • negotiation skills in transboundary surface and ground water resource management; • international law and instruments including UN articles on groundwater; • water governance (water supply and sanitation); • groundwater management; • media relations training for water professionals (refer to Programme P3.2.1.3(d)); • journalists reporting on water (refer to Programme P3.2.1.3(c)); • economic accounting for water (refer to Programme P5.3.1(a)); • monitoring and communicating of river water status (refer to Programme P3.2.2.1 (a)); • gender mainstreaming tools (refer to Programme P3.1(e)); • initiating a process leading to the establishment of a common platform for promoting innovation and collaboration in Marine Science Research (refer to Programme P1.3(c)); P4.2 RESEARCH INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT There is need to undertake research within the framework of the SADC Research Agenda to address the knowledge gaps. The Water Research Fund for Southern Africa (WARFSA) is the mechanism for implementing this, through coordination with other research partners. The Southern African Network of Water and Technology Centres of Excellence (SANWATCE), as a host for WARFSA, will play a pivotal role in rolling out the research Agenda for the region. It is imperative that research supports the implementation of regional, RBO/OSIC and national programmes. This calls for demand-driven and innovative research for patenting and commercialisation within the framework of the SADC Research Agenda’s predetermined research themes under two focal areas listed below: 1) Infrastructure for Health, Livelihoods and Economic Development This will include: • development of and sustainable implementation of resilient water-related infrastructure; • innovation in affordable and appropriate technologies and innovative approaches and practices; • sustainable water institutions; and • Human Rights to water. P4.1.1 HUMAN CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2) Water Resource Management and Environment This will include: • • • • • • assessment of surface and groundwater resources; operational rules for water resources management; impact of urbanisation on water resources; water governance and institutional arrangements; ecosystems; and water and land. A Vehicle to implement the Water Component of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 20