The Southern African Development Community (SADC) groups fourteen sovereign states in
the southern and eastern Africa region for the main purpose of fostering co-operation for
mutual benefit from development of the resources of the whole region. The region accounts
for almost 70% gross domestic product of sub-Saharan Africa and is home to almost a third of
its people. In the context of water resources, conditions in the SADC region are highly
variable with respect to the relative reliance of each of the Member States on surface or
groundwater sources. However, studies already indicate that water resources will be scarce in
9 of the 14 Member States within the next 10 to 30 years, most especially in the southern and
eastern portion of the SADC region. Clearly, water resource conservation and comprehensive
national and regional planning is going to be crucial.
SADC recognised the critical importance of water to regional integration and economic
development and established its own Water Sector in 1996. A SADC Protocol on Shared
Watercourse Systems was adopted to set the rules for joint management of resources. A
Regional Strategic Action Plan for Integrated Water Resource Development and Management
has been compiled; this is being implemented to address key water management issues,
concerning both surface water bodies and aquifers (groundwater).
The region is also characterised by rapid population growth. Extremes of climate bring
frequent drought and substantial flood events that impact on rural populations as well as
national productivity. The region is already highly dependent on groundwater for rural water
supply, and it is clear that groundwater is a key element in the alleviation of the effects of
drought on rural communities.
However, policy responses to drought have, in the past, been based on short-term crisis
reactions, which have generally proved to be inefficient or ineffective. To address this
undesirable situation, proactive, sustainable and integrated management of groundwater
resources needs to be instigated, but with due sympathy to the requirements of ecosystems