2.2.2.17
River Basin Awareness Kits
A River Awareness Kit (RAK) is an information and knowledge management for a river basin, which
supports dissemination of information and the management of the environment and resources of
that river basin. So far four RAKs have been developed for the:
a)
b)
c)
d)
2.2.3
Kunene River Basin (www.kunenerak.org);
Orange‐Senqu River Basin (www.orangesenqurak.com);
Limpopo River Basin (www.limcom.org); and
Okavango River Basin (www.okacom.org).
Member States
Table 2.1 shows the SADC Member States, as well as the shared watercourses and institutions in
existence. It is clear from Table 2.1 that the legal and policy reforms are at different levels of
development in the SADC Member States. This, therefore, calls for concerted effort by the SADC
Member States to move towards common ground in this respect, by harmonising the legal and policy
frameworks with those of SADC among themselves, so as to facilitate joint regional infrastructure
development projects.
2.3
Water Sector Projections and Trends
The major water uses in the SADC region that need water resources infrastructure development in
order to improve productivity, enhance economic development while alleviating poverty in a
sustainable manner are:
Aquaculture;
Mining;
Irrigation;
Domestic and livestock uses;
Manufacturing;
Hydro‐ and thermal power generation;
Navigation; and
Recreation and environmental flows.
In the planning horizon of 2013 to 2027 (15 years), the Water Sector infrastructure development
interventions should target three main water user areas, namely agriculture, hydropower generation
and water supply and sanitation services in line with the SADC goal and RISDP objectives. The
agriculture and hydropower generation sub‐sectors are the main catalysts or drivers for food
security, poverty eradication and economic development, while water supply and sanitation services
not only ensure poverty eradication and healthier citizens, but should also be considered a human
right.
The other Water Sector users such as aquaculture, navigation, recreation and environmental flows
will also benefit from the provision of infrastructure of the three main user areas. The population of
the SADC region is currently estimated at 260 million people (Aquastat 2008). At an average
population growth rate of 2.1% per annum (SADC 2008), the SADC region's population will reach
350 million by 2027.
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