6) 7) 8) 9) Water Resources Development and Management: including policy provisions on a river basin approach; integrated planning of shared watercourses; dams and dam management; water conservation and water demand management; and alternative sources of water Regional Water Resources Institutional Framework: including policy provisions covering institutional arrangements at regional and national levels and for shared water course institutions. Stakeholder Participation and Capacity Building: including provisions focussing on participation and awareness creation; capacity building and training; gender mainstreaming; and research, technology development and transfer. Financing integrated water resources development in the region. 2.6.2 The structure of the policy document consists of a sub-policy title, a policy statement followed by a brief explanation supporting or justifying the statement, or pointing out specific issues relevant to the policy in respect of each of the policy areas. The policy statements are presented in Chapters 3 to 11. 2.7 Implementation of Regional Water Policy 2.7.1 The Regional Water Policy will be implemented through a Regional Water Strategy whose development is progressing in parallel, though not in phase, with the development of the policy. The strategy will elaborate mechanisms for implementing the policies laid out in this policy document. 2.7.2 An important vehicle for implementing the major part of this policy is the existence of well functioning river basin organisations established particularly on shared watercourses, operating under sound legislation, and systems for planning and stakeholder involvement, and embracing IWRM principles. In order for the Regional Water Policy to be implemented at national level, Member States would need to harmonise their policies with those of the regional policy. 2.7.3 It is also fundamentally important that there should be closer coordination of the Regional Water Policy with other sectoral policies in the SADC, especially the major water use sectors including agriculture, energy and environment. Inter-sectoral coordination at SADC level would be an important building block for integrated water resources development which is the basis for sustainable development. - 12 -