“For a long time now the world has acknowledged that the water crisis is a governance crisis, and that indeed capacity development is critical, not only for understanding the behaviour of water in a changing world, but also for improving the decisions we make so that water management can drive sustainable development in an equitable manner,” according to deputy minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi.

Mabudafhasi was speaking at the CAP-NET UNDP 10 year anniversary celebration held at World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden on Tuesday 28 August 2012. Cap-Net is a water management capacity development programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Highlighting the issue of human and institutional capacity, the Deputy Minister added that there is therefore a dire need to develop someone called the ‘new water manager’, “someone whose toolbox for managing water includes not only pipes, pumps and concrete but also includes things such as negotiation skills, people and process management skills, gender, economic and financial instruments and many others.”

However, she also raised the ever-present question when dealing with human capacity: From where shall the “new managers” come? “Education and training are important components of capacity development that need to be addressed urgently and continuously. That is why for example the African Ministers Council on Water, in line with the Africa Water Vision has identified Education, Knowledge and Capacity Development as one of its themes of focus in the current action plan,” said Mabudafhasi.

According to Mabudafhasi, human and institutional capacity is also required to extend and maintain water and sanitation services for those who have not yet been reached, particularly, the poor, women and the disabled. We also need to empower the youth as they represent the future of our planet.

“It is with these thoughts in mind that I am happy to say since 2007 to date, South Africa, through its Water Research Commission, has been host to Cap-Net, a UNDP global network for capacity development for sustainable water management that reaches most parts of the developing world through its partners at regional and national networks as we have heard. I cordially urge governments, donors and private entities to support capacity development initiatives. It is indeed a ‘no regrets’ investment,” concluded the Deputy Minister.