Project Development Objective

The objective of the project is to develop capacity and knowledge for inclusive groundwater management and use in the SADC region at national and transboundary levels.

As climate variability is affecting surface water availability, groundwater has become an indispensable go-to water source. In the quest to address water challenges faced by the SADC region as a consequence of the worsening impacts of climate change, the SADC Secretariat – Directorate for Infrastructure and Services (Water Division) secured funding to the tune of US$9 million from the Multi Donor Trust Fund Cooperation in International Waters in Africa (CIWA) through the World Bank to implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management in SADC Member States Phase 2 Project.

The SADC Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI) as the Centre of Excellence in the sustainable groundwater management in the region and a Subsidiary structure of the SADC Secretariat is entrusted to implement this enormously significant 4-year project on behalf of the SADC Secretariat and CIWA.

The project commenced on 16^th November 2021 and is expected to end in November 2025.

The project is closely aligned to the SADC Regional Strategic Action Plans (RSAPs) on Integrated Water Resources Development and Management, Phases IV (2016-2020) and V (2021-2025).

This project builds on the achievements of the recently completed Sustainable Groundwater Management in SADC Member States Project (2015-2021) and it considers the conclusions of the Regional Policy, Legal and Institutional Gap Analysis conducted by SADC-GMI in 2019 which revealed that gap exists in Capacity development, Knowledge management, and building resilient livelihoods of key stakeholders in the region. Based on the assessment of gaps, this 2nd Phase project will address the issues through three main components of the project.

Project Components

1. Capacity Building for Sustainable Groundwater Management
2. Knowledge Development, Dissemination, and Advocacy
3. Building Resilient Livelihoods and Inclusive Groundwater Management

We are cognisant of the fact that we cannot “do it alone” to achieve the huge mandate of promoting sustainable groundwater management in the SADC region.

The SADC-GMI acknowledges the role that other partners are playing and, in an effort to improve efficiencies, we are continuously seeking partnership with stakeholders operating in the groundwater domain.