1 April 2019 | SADC-GMI
SADC-GMI hosts the Transboundary Water Resources Management in the Shire Basin Project Validation Workshop
SADC-Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI) is implementing the Conjunctive Transboundary Water Resources Management in the Shire Basin (Shire ConWat). The Shire basin is shared between Mozambique and Malawi. The project recognizes that optimal transboundary water management results from taking conjunctive approaches that optimise water use across a diversity of water resources and scales.The overall objective of the Shire ConWat project is to identify and develop joint strategic conjunctive management of the shared surface and groundwater resources of the Shire River basin and aquifer system and contribute to the sustainable water management in SADC region.
In light of the severe climate change and increasing water demand, conjunctive management of surface and groundwater can never be over emphasized. It is critical that groundwater and surface water resources in the region are fully understood- how they can be utilized to improve water security, reduce poverty and enhance people livelihoods. The Shire ConWat project aims to contribute to the academic body of knowledge in the field of groundwater in the SADC region through conducting Research on groundwater challenges and disseminating the outcomes thereof.
The project is being implemented by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) on behalf of SADC-Groundwater Management Institute. The project required IWMI to conduct the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) of the Shire Transboundary Aquifer System in consultation with the riparian Member States (Malawi and Mozambique). The TDA was to be validated by Member States at a joint workshop.
On 07 – 08 March 2019 SADC-GMI in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute hosted the TDA report Validation workshop. The workshop provided an interactive platform for stakeholders from both countries to extensively review the Project Progress, validate the Transboundary Diagnostic Report, and to jointly discuss the Strategic Action Plan (SAP).
During the two days, stakeholders were able to engage with the project team and made invaluable input into the report, and the process allowed Member States to further shape the development of the report. It was agreed at the workshop that the project team would incorporate recommendations from Member States and share the revised report. The revised and final report will be presented to Member States at the project closing workshop which is scheduled for 16 – 17 April 2019, Tete, Mozambique.
During the workshop the project team from IWMI presented the following sections/chapters of the report: Socio-economics and demographics, climate, geology and hydrogeology, surface water, water use, land and water tenure, institutions and governance and key messages. The Shire ConWat project is part of the Sustainable management of Groundwater Resources in SADC Member States Project funded by the World Bank , and implemented by the SADC-Groundwater Management Institute