In-country consultative workshops towards the development of a funding proposal for the SADC Regional Climate Resilient Water Investment Programme (SADC-AIP) kicked off in Lesotho on 30 October 2024.
Twelve more workshops will take place in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe before the end of 2024.
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is providing an initial project preparation grant of US$1.5 million, through the GCF Project Preparation Facility (PPF), for the SADC AIP. The programme is implemented by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the SADC Secretariat, in collaboration with Global Water Partnership Southern Africa, and it aims to leverage at least USD 117 million and is expected to benefit 140 million people in the SADC region.
Promoting climate resilient water security and development
The SADC-AIP will promote climate-resilient development through access to reliable climate information, hydrological services, impact-based multi-hazard early warning systems and investments in water security.
“The urgency of the SADC-AIP is underscored by the increasing frequency and severity of climate hazards, which threaten existing investments in water, energy, food security, human health, and socio-economic development,” said Dr. Patrice Kabeya, Senior Programme Officer – Water at the SADC Secretariat, during the programme’s inception meeting held in August 2024.
“Many African countries suffer from inadequate access to functional climate information and early warning systems,” added Dr. Kabeya.
Consultative stakeholder-driven process
The workshops provide stakeholders with an opportunity to input into the project design, ensure that national priorities are integrated into the SADC regional funding proposal, and unite behind a common vision on the funding proposal to be submitted to the Green Climate Fund.
The workshops will also provide an overview of the SADC AIP project objectives and deliverables of the project preparation phase to stakeholders; share experiences of good practices and lessons learnt from regional, national, subnational and local governments to address climate risks; and review and discuss data and information input from the stakeholders to fill gaps that might exist for each country.
Contributing to closing Africa’s water investment gap
SADC-AIP forms a part of the AIP, which was adopted by African Union Heads of State in February 2021. The AIP aims to mobilize an additional USD 30 billion annually by 2030 to close Africa’s water investment gap, estimated at USD 45-54 billion per year.
“The SADC Regional Climate Resilient Water Investment Programme aims to transform and improve the investment outlook for water security and sustainable sanitation for a prosperous, peaceful and equitable SADC region,” said Mr. Alex Simalabwi, GWPSA Executive Secretary and CEO of the AIP.