should be seen as important measures for increasing financial resources for water resources development and management. In order to reduce costs of infrastructure development, the principle of least-cost planning should be adopted. The least-cost approach aims to find the least expensive way of meeting a demand for water for any particular use. 11.3 Public-Private-Civil Partnerships 11.3.1 Policy: The SADC Secretariat, SWCIs and Member States should actively develop partnerships with communities, civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations to support the development and management of water resources in the region. The development of partnerships between the SADC Water Division, SWCIs and regionally based community civil societies, non-governmental organisations, as well as communities will enhance financial and material support for IWRM programmes and activities. This will, in turn, serve to enhance the sustainability of programmes. Such partnerships may require the creation of regional or watercourse level forums or networks to facilitate the involvement of these groups. 11.3.2 Policy: Partnerships between SWCIs or governments and private sector should be considered where these could contribute to efficient management of resources, the delivery of services and lead to higher inflow of investment capital to the sector. Public private partnerships provide an opportunity to leverage private sector technical and managerial expertise, as well as finance, in the development and management of water resources and associated services. As such, this option may be considered where capacity is limited in water sector institutions. However this requires establishment of an appropriate regulatory and management frameworks so as to ensure adequate provisions for service delivery to the poor. 11.3.3 Policy: Partnerships between SADC Water Sector, SWCIs, Member States and external development agencies shall be maintained and strengthened. The development of the SADC Water Sector to meet the objectives and challenges related to industrial development, food security, energy security and domestic and industrial water supply, requires a large amount of investment capital. Over the years most of the investment capital to the water sector has been provided by a number of cooperating partners including bilateral and multi-lateral development agencies. This support has been of tremendous benefit to the region and will still be required for the foreseeable future. SADC will continue its endeavours related to working with all cooperating partners in order to obtain strategic and technical support and advice as well as to leverage additional financial resources for the IWRM programme and specific projects and activities. - 55 -