Water resources of the SADC : demands, dependencies and governance responses

Achieving poverty reduction and economic development in Africa based on a sustainable utilisation of the continent's rich natural resources remains an unresolved challenge. Natural resource use in Africa, similar to other parts of the world, is characterised by overexploitation and unsustainable use patterns. And although the poor are most affected by the negative effects of unsustainable resource use, such as ecosystem degradation or increased vulnerability to extreme events, they usually benefit the least from the exploitation of natural resources.
Progress towards more sustainable resource use can only be made if governance system are being developed that provide for a balance between the need for economic development and the preservation of the environment at large. Whereas this applies to all natural resource governance frameworks, it is particularly true for the management of water resources. Water resources, unlike any other natural resource, are not only important for economic development and ecosystem functioning - water is essential for human life. More so, water is a fluid resource that crosses international boundaries, adding to the complexity of developing an adequate management framework for the resource. Focusing on the Southern African Development
Community, this paper provides a background to the region’s water resources as well as current and future water demands in the region and the associated economic, environmental and political challenges. It describes the ongoing developments with respect to the region’s water resources management frameworks and concludes with a summary of policy options for achieving sustainable water resources use for economic development and ecosystem functioning.