Implementation Strategy Report

In essence the Implementation Strategy provides a plan for implementing and maintaining an optimal South African Water Resources Monitoring Network. As such the Strategy includes a number of key aspects considered for each of the surface water, groundwater and water quality monitoring programs, as summarized below: Finalizing the optimal monitoring network design, including the location, the variables/constituents being monitored, the frequency of observations, as well as the implementation priority for each monitoring site. Identifying opportunities for the integration of processes involved in the implementation process, such as the coordinated development or upgrading of monitoring sites based on physical location and other practical considerations. Developing preliminary implementation, operation and maintenance cost estimates for each monitoring site. Developing the sequencing,grouping and programming of the relevant implementation steps for monitoring sites within each monitoring program. Developing preliminary implementation timelines and cash flow estimates, both provided per site, monitoring program, defined implementation area (such as a Water Management Area, WMA) and for the National Network. Providing recommendations and the action list for achieving Strategy implementation Identifying Strategy implementation risks and possible mitigation strategies, including the need for Strategy implementation support

Presentation: Spatial Design of an Objective Driven Theoretical Water Resources Monitoring Network

Review, evaluation and optimization of the National Water Resources Monitoring Networks Project Aim to: •undertake an evaluation of each the 10 monitoring networks in their present condition •redesign and realign (where necessary) the network with the strategic and management requirements of the DWS and SA •optimized the networks as far as possible •ensure sustainable, relevant and up-to-date data of an acceptable quality. Outcome: National Water Resource Monitoring Implementation Strateg

Annexure to Scientific Review Report

Contained in the main Scientific Review report is a summary of the recommendations regarding the existing surface and groundwater monitoring sites for all the Water Management Areas (WMAs) following the nine Regional Network Design Workshops held in Nelspruit, Cape Town, Durban, King Williams Town, Bela-Bela and Bloemfontein from March to June 2016. During these workshops theoretical monitoring network considerations for each WMA were presented to various stakeholders, and the considerations were used to review the existing networks and obtain changes and improvements to the networks as recommendations. The main objectives of the workshops were to review the existing monitoring networks against the prioritized National Monitoring Objectives in terms of: Existing sites meeting the identified objectives; Redundancies in the existing monitoring network; Gaps in the spatial coverage with regards to meeting important monitoring objectives; Possible physical constraints associated with existing and potential new monitoring sites. Reported in Annexures 1 to 9 of this document are the detailed outcomes, comments and prioritization of all existing and proposed monitoring sites per WMA. The WMAs are reported as per the second National Water Resources Strategy (DWS, 2013e)(see Figure A.1).The annexures are structured as follows: Annexure 1: Limpopo WMA Annexure 2: Olifants WMA Annexure 3: Inkomati-Usuthu WMA Annexure 4: Pongola-uMzimkulu WMA Annexure 5: Vaal WMA Annexure 6: Orange WMA Annexure 7: Mzimvubu-Tsitsikamma WMA Annexure 8: Breede-Gouritz WMA Annexure 9: Berg-Olifants WM

Presentation: Some Hydrological Considerations for the Spatial Review of the National Water Resources Monitoring Network

Review, evaluation and optimization of the National Water Resources Monitoring Networks Project (South Africa) Aim to: •undertake an evaluation of each the 10 monitoring networks in their present condition •redesign and realign (where necessary) the networks with the strategic and management requirements of the DWS and SA •optimize the networks as far as possible •ensure sustainable, relevant and up-to-date data of an acceptable quality. Outcome: National Water Resource Monitoring Implementation Strateg

Independent and combined effects of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene, and improved complementary feeding, on child stunting and anaemia in rural Zimbabwe: a cluster-randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Child stunting reduces survival and impairs neurodevelopment. We tested the independent and combined effects of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and improved infant and young child feeding (IYCF) on stunting and anaemia in in Zimbabwe. METHODS: We did a cluster-randomised, community-based, 2 × 2 factorial trial in two rural districts in Zimbabwe. Clusters were defined as the catchment area of between one and four village health workers employed by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care. Women were eligible for inclusion if they permanently lived in clusters and were confirmed pregnant. Clusters were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to standard of care (52 clusters), IYCF (20 g of a small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement per day from age 6 to 18 months plus complementary feeding counselling; 53 clusters), WASH (construction of a ventilated improved pit latrine, provision of two handwashing stations, liquid soap, chlorine, and play space plus hygiene counselling; 53 clusters), or IYCF plus WASH (53 clusters). A constrained randomisation technique was used to achieve balance across the groups for 14 variables related to geography, demography, water access, and community-level sanitation coverage. Masking of participants and fieldworkers was not possible. The primary outcomes were infant length-for-age Z score and haemoglobin concentrations at 18 months of age among children born to mothers who were HIV negative during pregnancy. These outcomes were analysed in the intention-to-treat population. We estimated the effects of the interventions by comparing the two IYCF groups with the two non-IYCF groups and the two WASH groups with the two non-WASH groups, except for outcomes that had an important statistical interaction between the interventions. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01824940. FINDINGS: Between Nov 22, 2012, and March 27, 2015, 5280 pregnant women were enrolled from 211 clusters. 3686 children born to HIV-negative mothers were assessed at age 18 months (884 in the standard of care group from 52 clusters, 893 in the IYCF group from 53 clusters, 918 in the WASH group from 53 clusters, and 991 in the IYCF plus WASH group from 51 clusters). In the IYCF intervention groups, the mean length-for-age Z score was 0·16 (95% CI 0·08-0·23) higher and the mean haemoglobin concentration was 2·03 g/L (1·28-2·79) higher than those in the non-IYCF intervention groups. The IYCF intervention reduced the number of stunted children from 620 (35%) of 1792 to 514 (27%) of 1879, and the number of children with anaemia from 245 (13·9%) of 1759 to 193 (10·5%) of 1845. The WASH intervention had no effect on either primary outcome. Neither intervention reduced the prevalence of diarrhoea at 12 or 18 months. No trial-related serious adverse events, and only three trial-related adverse events, were reported. INTERPRETATION: Household-level elementary WASH interventions implemented in rural areas in low-income countries are unlikely to reduce stunting or anaemia and might not reduce diarrhoea. Implementation of these WASH interventions in combination with IYCF interventions is unlikely to reduce stunting or anaemia more than implementation of IYCF alone. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UK Department for International Development, Wellcome Trust, Swiss Development Cooperation, UNICEF, and US National Institutes of Health.The SHINE trial is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1021542 and OPP113707); UK Department for International Development; Wellcome Trust, UK (093768/Z/10/Z, 108065/Z/15/Z and 203905/Z/16/Z); Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation; US National Institutes of Health (2R01HD060338-06); and UNICEF (PCA-2017-0002)