Category Archives: Stellenbosch University

SADC Water Research Agenda II is ready for adoption by SADC Ministers

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

Regional Upscaling Platform for Vocational Excellence (PoVE) – Southern Africa

The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST Namibia), in collaboration with Stellenbosch University, hosted a Regional Upscaling Platform for Vocational Excellence (PoVE) workshop under the ACEWATER III initiative.

The engagement brought together stakeholders from academia, industry, water utilities, and the renewable energy sector to strengthen coordination on skills development and align training with evolving labour market needs.

Through the ACEWATER III Project, NUST is contributing to the establishment of a Centre of Vocational Excellence, positioning vocational education as a strategic and future-focused career pathway within the water and energy sectors.

This marks an important step towards building a coordinated, industry-responsive ecosystem for skills development in Namibia and the region.

The research and capacity development activities are undertaken within the framework of the ACEWATER III project, which is funded by the European Commission.

AUDA-NEPAD SANWATCE partners attend AWSISA Africa and Global South Water and Sanitation Dialogue 2025, 9-12 November in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The University of the Western Cape the Stellenbosch attended AWSISA dialoque. This three-day event brought together over 1500 delegates from across the world. This dialogue was the perfect opportunity for young professionals in various industries to learn about the water and sanitation sector, but also to gain mentorship from industry leaders. A post-graduate student at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa presented her ACEWATER III-related research.

AUDA-NEPAD SANWATCE partners engages at annual WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA symposium in Lusaka, 28-31 October 2025

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.

Exploring TVET and Industry Collaboration in the Water Sector in Botswana

On 4 September 2025, a collaborative workshop between two European Union-funded projects took place at the University of Botswana in Gaborone. Team members from the projects, ACEWATER III (implemented through the AUDA-NEPAD Networks of Water Centres of Excellence and the Platform of Vocational Excellence Water, met with staff members of the University of Botswana as well as TVET Colleges in the region.

The objectives of the workshop were to:

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Secretariat invited to the SADC Resource Mobilisation and Transboundary Water Investment Workshop Lusaka, Zambia 24-25 July 2025

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.

ACEWATER III enabling capacity building: Emerging scholars at the African Doctoral Academy Winter School, 7-28 July 2025, Stellenbosch University

12 delegates from four different AUDA-NEPAD Water Centres of Excellence are attending the Africa Doctoral Academy (ADA) Winter School. The Centres of Excellence include the University of Malawi, the University of Eduardo Mondlane in Mozambique, the University of Mauritius, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. The course durations were all one week, and taught online, hybrid, in-person, and taught by world-class experts in their respective fields. All courses include certification. Courses include: