Day 2 001 group 1 discussions
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Group 1 discussed institutional issues, cooperation, and shared benefits related to transboundary water resources in Africa and China. Key areas identified for further research and development include: 1) exploring benefit sharing mechanisms for closed river basins; 2) conducting capacity assessments and identifying skills needed to establish effective River Basin Organizations; and 3) performing comparative studies of cooperation between countries sharing river basins in Africa and China. Suggestions were also made for topics related to the water-food-energy nexus. Collaborative research institutions proposed include universities, River Basin Organizations, bilateral organizations, and national/international research institutions.
Day 2 001 group 1 discussions
- 1. 1 GROUP 1 INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES, COOPERATION, SHARED BENEFITS Group representation Name Institution Country Reginald Tekateka Water Sector Consultant – Former Commissioner -ORASECOM South Afria Yan Feng (Ms) Asian International River Centre China Peter Nthathakane Technical Task Team Member - ORASECOM Lesotho Lenka Thamae Executive Secretary - ORASECOM South Africa Mike Muller Commissioner in the Planning Commission of the Country (RSA) South Africa Thulani Madinginye Climate Resilient Infrastructure Development Facility South Africa John Metzger ZAMCOM Botswana Piet Heyns Consultant (Former Commissioner – ORASECOM ) Namibia Cyrille Masamba Deputy Head of Department of Water – Ministry of Hydraulic Resources and Electricity DRC Nicole Lefore IWMI – Institutional Specialist South Africa Dinis Juizo Water Resources Management - Mozambique Tongtiegang Zhao Water Resources Engineering – Systems Optimization China Chen Jiwei International Economic cooperation - Research, technology and transboundary issues China Gaohu Sun Ministry of Water Resources - China China Rapule Pule Water Resources Specialist – ORASECOM Secretariat South Afria 1.0 Introduction 1.1 After 14 years of implementation of the SADC Shared Watercourses Protocol beginning with the establishment of ORASECOM in 2000, it is appropriate and timely to review our progress and re-affirm the direction we want to take in the management of our trans-boundary water resources
- 2. 2 1.2 It is also important that research contributes to the improvement and implementation of existing local, national, basin level and regional policies, priorities, plans, etc., in order to produce tangible results on the ground 1.3 It serves our purpose to work with a developing partner such as China who are also seeking to find the optimal approach to managing their water resources their region. 2.0 Areas for Research and Development priorities 2.1 Explore the application of benefit sharing mechanisms to closed rivers. “Cooperation beyond closure”. 2.1.1 Explore the use of benefit sharing dividends to promote livelihoods of the poor who are dependent on the river course resources 2.2 Capacity Building & Requirements : Identify the various disciplines required for fulfilling the mandate and roles of RBOs. Develop inventory of existing capacity, determine gaps, necessary skills to establish RBO’s, and their functions. 2.2.1 Information generation and sharing for capacity building and confidence building, etc. 2.2.2 Innovative ways of harnessing brain drain. Also explore ways of incentivising the involvement of the diaspora. 2.3 Do a comparative study on forms of cooperation between countries sharing river basins, drawing from experiences and practices in Africa and China 2.4 Investigate the appropriateness of current policies and treaties for developing regions such as Africa and China i.e effectiveness of these Treaties, how should these be delinked from donor requirements/formats. Could extend to recent experiences introducing IWRM policies and experiences in implementation. Do these address issues of RBOs and countries in Africa and China. Also look at how these were developed. 2.5 SUGGESTIONS FOR WATER, FOOD AND ENERGY NEXUS TOPICS 2.5.1 Compare approaches employed in China and Africa in river yield and planning models 2.5.2 Agricultural production: The efficiency of dryland crop farming based on the South African experience. Given that South Africa export food to her neighbours and abroad. Collaborative institutions on research Academic Institutions in Africa and China e.g. University of Western Cape on GW, Pretoria University on institutions, Botswana University, University of Namibia, National University of Lesotho RBOs on Basin to Basin Cooperation & learning, Bilateral Organisations, NGOs
- 3. 3 National & International Research Institutions e.g. IWMI, CapNet, WaterNet, etc. Others e.g. Young Water Professionals & Scientists Include institutions from other sectors