MUNITY SOUTHERN M CO AF T VE N DE LOPM EN CA RI RE REGIONAL STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN IV (2016 - 2020) T U W TO AR D SA C O M MO N FU P4.2.1 RESEARCH AREAS P4.3 SECONDMENT OF MEMBER STATES’ WATER PROFESSIONALS Research needs to be conducted in the following areas: • sustainable utilisation and management of fragile ecosystems including wetlands, lakes and estuaries (refer to Programme P6.4.5); • methods for the management and control of aquatic weeds (refer to Programme P6.4.4); • indigenous knowledge (refer to Programme P7); • water related nexus (refer to Programme P8); • water footprint and value chains (refer to Programme P8.1.2(b)); • conversion of alien invasive species into valuable products (refer to Programme P6.4.4(d)); and • understanding of climate change impacts on the hydrologic cycle in SADC (refer to Programme P7.4.2(a)). 21 Member States’ water professionals need to be seconded to RBOs and to the SADC Water Division to build capacity. There is limited human resource capacity at the SADC Water Division and in RBOs. This can be addressed in part by the secondment of water professionals from Member States whose salaries are paid by the seconding Member State. Activities include mobilising resources for allowances for seconded Member States’ water professionals and facilitating the secondment of these professionals to RBOs and the SADC water division. A Vehicle to implement the Water Component of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP)