SADC-GMI and partners participate in the World Water Week 2023

From Left: The Kingdom of Eswatini Principal Secretary Mrs. Dorcas Dlamini, Mr. Edward Mswane INMACOM Interim Executive Secretary, Honorable Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation – South Africa Ms. Judith Tshabalala, Mr. Phera Ramoeli OKACOM Executive Secretary and Mr. sabelo Mdziniso INMACOM Administrative Assistant

SADC-GMI and partners participate in the World Water Week 2023 and convenes a Webinar in support of the World water theme.

In the quest to demonstrate strides made by the SADC region in sustainable groundwater management and development, the SADC-Groundwater Management Institute in collaboration with INMACOM, ZAMCOM, BUPUSA, ORASECOM, KOBWA , OKACOM and IUCN, participated at the SIWI World Water Week held in Stockholm, Sweden on 20 – 24 August 2023.

The theme of the World Water Week was the Seeds of Change – Innovative solutions for the Water-wise World. This theme provided participants with the opportunity to draw on the latest scientific knowledge and experiences from around the world to explore how water can be a powerful tool for addressing the water crisis, global warming, biodiversity loss and poverty.

To showcase the SADC region’s headways in sustainable groundwater management, SADC-GMI and partners secured a booth which allowed all SADC region partners to demonstrate what they have/are doing towards achieving sustainable development in the region. Having a booth at the World Water week allowed SADC-GMI to meet and network with strategic partners for potential future collaborations while elevating its brand.

Following SADC-GMI’s participation at the World Water Week, SADC-GMI hosted a webinar on 31 August 2023 in collaboration with the SABC Education, whose aim was to continue the discussions that took place during the World Water week. The two-hour webinar was attended by approximately 100 people who joined from various parts of the world, and the overarching objective of the webinar was to highlight water challenges, milestones achieved and unpack innovative solutions developed to mitigate water challenges.

Key experts and thought leaders from the water sector – Eng. James Sauramba SADC-Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI), Dr Shafick Adams Water Research Commission (WRC), Dr Tshilidzi Madzivhandila Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), Mr. Trevor Shongwe Komani Basin Water Authority (KOBWA), Ms. Astrid Hillers Global Environment Facility (GEF), Dr Dumisani Mndzebele SADC Secretariat, and Carl Ganter Circle of Blue, unpacked various thematic areas of the webinar, including innovative and impactful work their institutions have undertaken and completed in achieving sustainable groundwater development. They also shared case studies which helped the audience to understand the innovative ideas behind their work. The webinar also provided experts with the platform to raise awareness about water challenges and provide possible solutions for building climate resilience and improving livelihoods.

In summary experts agreed that if we are to meaningfully strive towards water security – especially in these changing times having to deal with more uncertainty – we need to:

• invest in information, research and innovation, and put these into use.
• invest in institutions, capacity development and governance.
• invest in infrastructure – both manmade and natural.
• follow an integrated approach on investments and implementation of actions
• engage inclusively across sectors, at multiple levels of governance and ensure that we leave no one behind.
• find innovative sustainable financing mechanisms for sustainable and positive impact.
• foster multi-stakeholder engagement and build partnerships and inter-connect also with mandated/state institutions and corporates.