Southern African Development Community; Water Sector Coordination Unit (SADC/WSCU)

I. Vision and objectives of the Water Sector

To maintain the sustainable, integrated planning, development, utilization and management of water resources that contribute to the attainment of SADC’s overall objectives of an integrated regional economy on the basis of balance, equity and mutual benefit for all member States. 
The overall objectives of the SADC Water Sector is: 
To promote co-operation in all water matters in the SADC region for the sustainable and equitable development, utilization and management of water resources and contribute towards the upliftment of the equity of life of the people of the SADC region. 

II. Functions of the Water Sector  

The role of the Water Sector will primarily be one of stimulating and facilitating development and co-operation in the region. In order to achieve this, the Water Sector shall: 
(a) Coordinate water resources research and development, including appropriate technological development, data and information collection, processing and dissemination among member States; 
(b) Facilitate integrated planning, development, management and equitable utilization of water resources at both the national and regional level;
 
(c) Monitor the implementation of the Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems and assist in resolving potential conflicts on shared water resources;
 
(d) Facilitate identification and preparation of regional water resources programme and projects;
 
(e) Mobilize resources (financial, human and institutional) including the appointment of Technical Assistance and Consultancy services for the implementation of approved regional programmes;
 
(f) Coordinate the implementation, operation and maintenance of regional projects;
 
(g) Provide advice and guidelines on equitable water resources allocation among riparian countries;
 
(h) Facilitate human resources development, capacity building and institutional strengthening at both national and regional levels;
 
(i) Promote joint and cross border water resources development investments and provide guidance on cost sharing arrangements;
 
(j) Advise on policy and cross border water resources development in investments and provide guidance on cost sharing arrangements;
 
(k) Promote the participation by all relevant stakeholders in water resources development and management at both national and regional levels;
 
(l) Provide strategic leadership in the development and management of water resources, including the development of appropriate policies and strategies at regional level;
 
(m) Facilitate the establishment of shared river basin institutions where required and strengthen their capacities where they do exist.

III. Institutional arrangements for the Water Sector 

The institutional framework for the SADC Water Sector shall comprise the following: 

(a) Sectoral Committee of Ministers 
The Sectoral Committee of Ministers shall comprise Ministers responsible for water resources in member Sates. The Committee shall meet at least once a year in accordance with SADC timetable for Sectoral Meetings, under the Chairmanship of the Minister responsible for water resources in the Kingdom of Lesotho. The Chairman of the Committee of Ministers shall present the sectoral Annual Report to the Council of Ministers on behalf of the Sector. 
The Committee of Ministers shall among other thing;

• Be responsible for guiding and coordinating cooperation and harmonization of policies, programmers and projects developed by the Sector; 
• Advise the Council on policies to be pursued by this Sector; 
• Recommend to the Council the establishment of technical committees and other institutional mechanisms in furtherance of the work of the Sector; 
• Consider and recommend for approval to the Council the sectoral annual progress report. 

(b) Sectoral Committee of Senior Officials/Sectoral Contact Points 
The Sectoral Committee of Senior Officials shall comprise the Permanent Secretaries/National Directors or equivalent officials responsible for Water Resources in the SADC member States. The Committee of Senior Officials shall meet at least once a year immediately before the meeting of the Committee of Ministers to discuss issues tabled before them by the Sector Coordinator/Member States. Members of the Committee of Officials are also the Sectoral Contact Points for this Sector, and are responsible for the mobilization of their country’s participation in the work of the Sector. 
 

The Committee of Senior Officials shall among other things: 

• Examine all reports and documents put before them by the Technical Committee, Sector Coordinator and the SADC Secretariat; 
• Initiate and advise the Committee of ministers on sectoral policies, strategies, programmers and projects to be presented to the Council for approval; 
• Review the Sectoral Programme of Action in order to ensure that it is consistent with the objectives of the Sector and those of SADC.

(c) Sector Coordinating Unit 
The Sector Coordinating Unit has been established in the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Kingdom of Lesotho. The Coordinating Unit is headed by the senior official of the appropriate level in terms of the SADC Treaty. The head of the Unit is assisted by full-time staff funded by the Government of Lesotho. 

The Coordination Unit shall among other things; 

• Submit the Sector’s Programme of activities, as well as progress report to the Council of Ministers; 
• Liaise with SADC Secretariat on matters pertaining to the Sector; 
• Provide regional leadership in the interpretation of the policies and objectives of the Sector; 
• Advise member States on matter pertaining to the development of the Sector; 
• Organize and manage all technical and policy meetings of the Sector; 
• Draft terms of reference for consultancies and manage the consultants hired by the Sector for regional projects; 
• Mobilize or facilitate mobilization of financial and technical resources for the implementation of the Sector’s programme; 
• Annually submit the sector’s programme of activities, as well as progress report to the Council of Ministers. 

(d) Technical Committee and Sub-Committees 
The Water Resources Technical Committee 

• Shall comprise Directors or Senior Officials with technical water resources backgrounds and responsibilities; 
• Shall provide technical support and advise to the Senior Officials through the Sector Coordinating Unit with respect to water resources policies, strategies, programmers and projects; 
• Shall meet, as its business may require, or at least a year before the meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials to discuss issues tabled to them through the Sector Coordinating Unit; 
• Shall adopt its own rules and procedures within the SADC framework for its meetings; 
• May appoint sub-committees for short-term tasks and standing committees for longer term tasks to advise the Technical Committee; 
• Shall approve the terms of reference, appointment of consultants, supervise and monitor their work; 
• Shall annually prepare the sector’s programme of activities, as well as a progress report to the Council of Ministers. 

Technical Sub-committees will be established as and when the need arises to enhance effectiveness in the operations of the Sector and to accommodate activities, currently under the Southern Africa Regional Commission for the Conservation and Utilization of the Soil (SARCCUS).