strategy. The SWCI executive would be responsible for implementation, either through direct management decisions or coordinating the activities of watercourse States. It is imperative that the setting of policy and strategy is through consensus, in order to ensure ownership and implementation by the watercourse States. 9.2.7. Policy: All SWCIs must enable the SADC Secretariat to fulfil its coordination and guidance responsibilities in terms of the Regional Policy and Strategy and the (Revised) Protocol on Shared Watercourses. The SADC Secretariat is responsible for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the Regional Policy and Strategy, the RISDP, as well as the (Revised) Protocol. In terms of the Revised Protocol, SWCIs have obligations with regard to the provision of all relevant information and documentation to the Secretariat to allow it to fulfil its mandate. 9.2.8. Policy: Stakeholder participation in decision making shall be promoted by Member States and/or SWCIs. Stakeholder participation in the formulation of policy and strategy for the SWCI should primarily be facilitated at national level by the Member State governments. These stakeholder inputs should be presented to the SWCI by the relevant country delegations, where such delegations may include stakeholders other than government. SWCIs should be encouraged to institutionalise multi-lateral stakeholder consultation at a joint project level, including the planning of integrated water resource strategies / plans or joint infrastructure development. Stakeholders have recourse against decisions by the SWCI through their Member State governments. 9.2.9. Policy: In the interests of IWRM, SWCIs are encouraged to foster cooperative relationships with non-governmental and civil society groupings within the shared watercourse. In the interests of stakeholder involvement (to support participatory management), SWCIs should develop strong relationships with relevant nongovernment, civil society and local government bodies within the shared watercourse. This may be through the provision of support to existing bodies and/or forums or through the creation of new stakeholder forums at a national, basin and/or local level. 9.3 Institutional Arrangements at National Levels 9.3.1. Policy: Member States have an obligation to create an enabling institutional environment for the effective management of shared watercourses in line with the Revised Protocol and the Regional Policy and Strategy Member States have an obligation to ensure that the institutional arrangements at a national level - support international cooperation within shared - 47 -