Page 48 - CIWA AR25

Southern Africa

COMPONENT 1: COMPONENT 2:
Capacity building and strengthening for Knowledge development,
sustainable groundwater management dissemination, and advocacy
The project began establishing a National Focal Group (NFG) in The SADC Groundwater Information Portal (SADC‑GIP), a
Zanzibar, bringing the number of NFGs to 11. The NFGs have helped state-of-the-art online data management system, has been
implement both the national sub-grant projects and initiatives in expanded to improve access to hydrogeological data and
the transboundary aquifers (TBAs) and RBOs and are a core way that maps for SADC Member States and stakeholders, incorporating
the project supports sustained local capacity. Through the NFGs, time-series data, remote-sensed data, and machine learning.
the project supported groundwater National Stakeholder Dialogues SADC-GMI has begun supporting Zanzibar to create a database to
with 413 people, of whom 154 were female, in Eswatini, Malawi, be linked to the SADC-GIP, part of an effort to integrate country-

Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. The dialogues create awareness of, and specific data and support transboundary assessments. SADC-
build capacity for, groundwater management and sustainability. GMI also held training on groundwater management in March
2025, which brought together 42 participants, of whom 10 were
The SADC‑GMI has been revising its 2005 Water Policy, expected women, from Member States and RBOs, and equipped them
to be completed in August 2025. Delegates from Member States, with practical skills and knowledge on groundwater governance,
RBOs, and other SADC-GMI partners met at a Regional Stakeholder data management, and sustainable resource management. This
Workshop in April 2025 in Johannesburg to contribute insights initiative formed part of SADC-GMI’s broader commitment to
on the proposed Water Policy, which is expected to incorporate a strengthen institutional frameworks and improve groundwater.
holistic approach to addressing climate change and groundwater
management and mainstream gender and inclusivity. The SADC Groundwater Literature Archive (SADC‑GLA) is a
critical repository of reports, research materials, and documents
SADC‑GMI has established 42 strategic partnerships with RBOs, on groundwater. SADC-GMI is developing or strengthening
academic institutions, and regional implementing partners,
exceeding its goal of 40, facilitating collaboration, fostering knowledge
exchange, and building capacity in groundwater management. In
FY25, eight more MOUs were signed, one of which was signed with
the Buzi, Pungwe, and Save Watercourses Commission during the
August 2024 World Water Week in Stockholm.

The SADC‑GMI has demonstrated significant success in
implementing joint activities with groundwater partners—
including workshops, training sessions, strategic meetings,
and collaborative studies and projects, enhancing regional
cooperation. It held the Sixth SADC Groundwater Conference
in November 2024 in Lesotho for more than 200 participants,
including 11 Young Professionals, to facilitate dialogue on better
integration of groundwater into the management of transboundary
RBOs, more effective groundwater monitoring systems,
and regional knowledge sharing. The Seventh Groundwater
Conference will be held in Johannesburg in November 2025.

The organization hosted monthly webinars for its Young
Professionals program, which has more than 1,000 participants
in its Community of Practice, to share knowledge about
sustainable groundwater management practices, urban
groundwater management challenges, and groundwater quality
assessment strategies. The program is designed to empower
emerging water specialists with the resources, knowledge, and
skills necessary for effective engagement in the water sector.
More than 120 Young Professionals, of whom 56 are female, have
participated in internships at SADC-GMI headquarters in Pretoria
or in groundwater projects throughout the region. In addition, 12
Young Professionals have received scholarships for master’s or

PhD programs, of whom eight are female. Currently, five graduate
students are conducting research, contributing to the improvement
of groundwater management.

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