After the AUDA-NEPAD SANWATE secretariat, hosted at Stellenbosch University reviewed the SADC water research agenda in 2025, the final document was presented to the SADC ministers responsible for water at the last WRTC meeting in Johannesburg. This reviewed agenda will be accepted the third quarter of 2026.
During the week of 4 to 6 April 2026, the AUDA-NEPAD SANWATCE Secrariat presented the final version of the revised SADC Water Research Agenda to the Regional Stakeholder Workshop to review and validate Regional Water Sector Strategies in Johannesburg, South Africa. This follows a year of analysis, reviews and stakeholder engagements with more than 500 stakeholders in the region. The final review document was validated and recommended for further adoption to the Water Resource Technical Committee, which is the final step before the SADC Ministers are asked to adopt the agenda.
On the sidelines, the secretariat also had a wonderful personal highlight where they connected with Ms Zanele Lulane from Eswatini, a beneficiary of the ACEWATER III project. She is undertaking a PhD through the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and would contribute towards developing a Framework for Strengthening the Institutional, Technical and Operational Capacity of the Incomati–Maputo River Basin for Effective Transboundary Water Resources Management
It was so nice to connect and for her to share her story. Wonderful to see how we are all making a difference at a personal level
All 11 partners attended and actively engaged at this annual symposium. Several emerging scholars and researchers working on the ACEWATER III projects presented their respective research. The Unit for Environmental Ethics at Stellenbosch University, in collaboration with NUST Zimbabwe convened a special session on transboundary water ethics, which was attended by 20 participants. The AUDA-NEPAD SANWATCE secretariat convened a special session on the review of the SADC Water Research Agenda, which was attended by about 50 participants. Dr Patrice Kabeya, the Senior Programme Officer for Water at the SADC Secretariat welcomed the audience and set the scene for the session.
The SANWATCE Secretariat and Stellenbosch Univeristy Water Institute also co-convened two special sessions related to the WASANet project (Water Security in Africa).
AUDA-NEPAD SANWATCE used the opportunity to also convene its annual network consultative meeting.
The secretariat for AUDA-NEPAD SANWATCE was invited by the SADC Water Division and GWP-SA (Global Water Partners – Southern Africa) to represent the AUDA-NEPAD Water CoEs and to present on the progress of the SADC Water Research Agenda II review.
In support of the Regional Strategic Action Plan on Integrated Water Resources Management and Development (RSAP V: 2021- 2025), the SADC Water Division, with technical and financial backing from GIZ through the Transboundary Water Management (TWM) programme, is developing a draft RSAP Resource Mobilisation Plan. This consultative workshop brought together member states, RBOs (River Basin Organisations), and international cooperating partners. The Government of Zambia hosted the workshop through the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation. Prof Kawawa Banda at the University of Zambia, a partner of AUDA-NEPAD SANWATCE, was also in attendance.
With the support of the ACEWATER III project, funded by the European Union, the secretariat attended this workshop.
