The major project challenges are the timely sourcing of project finances, as well as achieving
consensus on the project with the project riparian states.
Assessment of the Groundwater Resources Potential of the SADC Region (Project GP‐5)
The project proponent is the SADC Groundwater and Drought Management Project, with the SADC
Member States Water Sector Ministries as the lead agencies. Groundwater is of critical importance
in the SADC region, as it is the main source of water for at least 70% of the population. However,
very little is known in the SADC region regarding underground water in general, and its interaction
with surface water in particular. Groundwater usually provides a secure and cost‐effective water
supply solution, requiring little or no treatment in arid regions where surface water is seasonal, in
rural areas with dispersed populations, for stock watering and for small town water supplies.
Groundwater provides a cushion against droughts, and many boreholes and protected wells have
been drilled and sunk during droughts.
A pilot SADC regional project with the following objectives should be formulated and implemented
which will inform the SADC region:
Create awareness of the importance of and the critical role that groundwater plays in
providing water to at least 70% of the SADC region’s population;
Assess the groundwater capacity, abstraction rates and recharge capabilities of aquifer
systems of the SADC region, bearing in mind that most of these aquifer systems are fossil
waters and not renewable;
Produce a comprehensive SADC regional hydro‐geological map;
Ensure, through the project, that provisions on groundwater management are included in
shared watercourse agreements, particularly for trans‐boundary aquifers;
Improve groundwater modelling; and
Improve the understanding of the protection and recharge mechanisms of groundwater
resources.
The knowledge gained from this project will assist in the planning and development of water
resources and related infrastructure developments. It is estimated that the total cost of the project
would be US$15 million spent over eight years. The project would start with the drafting of the ToR
for the project in 2013, tendering for the consultancy work in 2013 and commencement of execution
of the project in 2014, ending in 2020.
Possible project financiers are UNEP, GEF and the AfDB. The project can be considered to be in Phase
2 of the ICA Project Development Phases.
The major project challenge foreseen is timely sourcing of project finances.
Monitoring Climate Change Adaptation to Drought ‐ Agro‐ecological Region I, Zambia (Project GP‐
6)
The overall objective of the Climate Change Adaptation to Drought Project (P1‐13) is to reduce the
vulnerability of those depending on rain‐fed agricultural practices to anticipate rainfall shortages in
the face of climate change/variability. Agro‐ecological Region (AER) I covers the western and
southern parts of Zambia, and receives less than 800 mm of rain annually. Project P1‐13 will focus on
the introduction of irrigation and water management systems, training, capacity building of farmers
on water management practices, support to marketing and provision of finance credit facilities. It
will also support the introduction of drought resistant crops such as cassava, beans, sorghum, millet,
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