Water and Sanitation on MoU between Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission and Southern African Development Community

INMACOM and SADC - GMI sign an MoU on various areas of cooperation

Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission (INMACOM) and Southern African Development Community - Groundwater Management Institute (SADC - GMI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster promotion of equitable and reasonable utilisation of water resources of the Incomati and Maputo Basin. The agreement also seeks to ensure efficient management and sustainable development of the resources.

The signing ceremony occurred on Wednesday, 04 October 2023 on the sideline of 10th SADC River Basin Organisations (RBO's) and Shared Watercourse Institutions (SWI's) workshop which took place on 02-04 October 2023 at Joachim Chissano Conference Centre in Maputo,

The aim of the workshop was to facilitate the exchange of ideas that will enhance effective transboundary water resources planning, development, and management in the region whilst ensuring environmental sustainability and resilience in order to improve regional water security and ultimately reduce poverty through regional integration, economic productivity, and industrialisation.

Through the signed MoU, the two parties have agreed on the following areas of cooperation amongst others:

• Engage in academic research on the Incomati and Maputo Basins on items of mutual interest, particularly on groundwater related issues.
• Share any information that improves the knowledge base on transboundary aquifers in the Incomati and Maputo Basins
• Design and undertake joint excursions and projects within the two basins.
• Explore funding opportunities from various cooperating partners and funders to implement joint activities within the basin.

INMACOM is an entity established by the Kingdom of Eswatini, Republic of Mozambique, and Republic of South Africa through the Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission Establishment Agreement entered into in November 2021.This is an instrument used to guide the Riparian states in contributing to regional cooperation with regard to the utilisation and development of common water resources.

The main responsibility of the Commission is to amongst others encourage cooperation between the parties to ensure the development, protection and sustainable utilisation of the water resources shared by the Member States.

These combined effort by the member states through South Africa's Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Department of Water Resources in Eswatini and Mozambique's Department of Water and Natural Resources could also contribute positively towards peace, stability and prosperity of the Southern African region.

SADC-GMI, is established as the regional Centre of Excellence in promoting equitable and sustainable groundwater management and providing solutions to groundwater challenges across the SADC region for improved livelihoods and socio-economic development. This also forms part of SADC agenda of regional integration and poverty eradication.

Furthermore, SADC-GMI mandate is to create an enabling policy, legal and regulatory environment, capacity development, advancing research, supporting groundwater infrastructure development, and create an enabling dialogue and accessibility of groundwater information in the SADC region.

Enquiries:
Wisane Mavasa
Cell: 060 561 8935
Tel: [email protected](link sends e-mail)

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