This week South African authorities will focus their attention on addressing the country’s water related issues and challenges under SADC’s Water Week initiative.

The South African Development Community (SADC) in partnership with South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation, the South African Water Research Commission and the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa are hosting this three-day event from 29-31 July 2015 at Protea Hotel, in Centurion.

The event forms part of the work of the SADC directorate of Infrastructure and Services, which provides a platform for its member countries to address water related issues and challenges to ensure that water in Southern Africa becomes a sustainable resource through the co-ordinated management, protection and equitable use of its shared water courses.

Raising awareness

The department highlighted that the main aim of this venture is to create a platform for country focused awareness of the SADC regional water programme and River Basin Organisations’ initiatives towards the goal of improving water resources management and development.

“More importantly, the workshop seeks to harmonise national and local water management strategies with SADC regional strategies for better water resources management and development.”

The workshop will focus on engaging with news reporters across various media houses to give them an opportunity to connect with experts and policy makers in the South African and regional water sector, to give them insight on issues of water governance and integrated water resources management and development.

“This exercise is meant to assist the journalist as they follow the water issues in the country and region, to ensure that as they disseminate the information gathered for their consumers,” the department said.

Youth participation in water security

Another issue to take centre stage during the event will be the participation of youth in ensuring the region’s water security through a National Youth Forum Information note.

During this session, representatives from several youth networks and organisations in water, environment and sanitation related sectors will meet to develop a national action plan for mainstreaming youth in these sectors and inform a way forward with regard to their involvement at national and regional level.

Other discussions will include issues of cooperation in trans-boundary water resources management development within and beyond the SADC region and also, water financing for management and development resource as well as building local indigenous practices to manage climate change.