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Front
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SADC in the global context
Despite the challenges, these developments are a
reflection of the concerted efforts being made to more
efficiently utilize the water resources in southern Africa for
the mutual benefit of the region. SADC has been responding
positively to global trends as well as regional needs to
sustainably use its limited water resources. The mechanism
for responding to this challenge by SADC is in place through
WSCU. In this respect SADC is leading in Africa. It is
important that WSCU remains at the forefront in
spearheading and co-ordinating developments in the water
sector for conflict prevention and positive development.
However, there is still limited interaction between SADC
and other regional groupings such as the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the
Association of East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Co-operation with African sub-regional groupings from early
stages is of paramount importance in view of intended
ultimate goal of an African Economic Community. There is
need for SADC to focus much more on this aspect in future.
Exchange of information and ideas at inter-regional level, just like exchange within
SADC, ensures that
compatible approaches to
integrated water resources
management are adopted for
the continent. Interaction
should be promoted in legal,
institutional and technical
aspects.
Asia, Europe and the U.S.
have a wealth of experience
in IWRM through centuries
of conflicts, near conflicts
and co-operation in shared watercourse systems. The interaction between SADC and
EU should be extended despite the fact that the two
groupings have different issues to resolve. SADC can
draw a number of lessons from experience in other parts
of the world both for the current challenges and possible
future problems. In addition through this interaction,
SADC positions itself to contribute meaningfully to global
approaches to water resources management.
It is important to note that moves towards integration in
the SADC Water Sector within the general framework of
IWRM only effectively began a decade ago.
Commendable progress has been made towards the goal
of IWRM and major milestones achieved. This must be
taken in the context of the complexities and sensitivity of
water issues. It should be noted that despite centuries of
experience in Europe and the Middle East for instance, no
perfect solutions have been found yet for all potential
scenarios.
A great deal of planning on IWRM has been undertaken,
joint planning has strengthened the water sector in terms
of information-sharing, strategies for managing shared
water courses and the development of a common water
vision. A number of concerns including environmental
aspects have been brought to the fore and deliberate
moves have been made to rationalize the use of shared
watercourses. However, concerted efforts have to be
made to ensure that these ideas and developments are
fully implemented.
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