Integrated Water Resources Management Plan (IWRM plan)
The four countries have developed a Consolidated Orange-Senqu River Basin IWRM Plan which identifies a number of key priorities aimed at achieving the sustainable management and development of the basin water resources – and have prioritised key investments through the development of a Climate Resilient Water Resources Development Investment Plan. The implementation of the IWRM Plan and the Investment Plan – requires a range of stakeholders more than just the governments. Hence this work is relevant to a wide range of audiences including government, inter-governmental bodies, NGOs, CBOs, youth, media and the private sector. In order to promote a Sector Wide Approach (SWAP) for all scientific and technical activities within the Orange-Senqu River basin, the following themes were identified as priority areas by the Orange-Senqu River Basin Commission (ORASECOM):
Optimised Sustainable Water Resources Management
Strategic Objective: Ensure the optimised sustainable management of the basin water resources
Action Areas:
- Surface and groundwater assessments
- Optimising efficient development and adaptive management of water resources
Inter/Intra-sectoral planning and coordination (Horizontal and vertical alignment)
Socio-economic upliftment and poverty eradication
Strategic Objective: Support socio-economic upliftment and eradication of poverty in the basin
Action Areas:
- Equitable utilisation of water resources
Water resources developmentalignment)
Environmental Protection
Strategic Objective: Ensure that the adverse effects of catchment degradation are reduced and the sustainability of resource use is improved
Action Areas:
- Improving water quality
- Catchment degradation, watershed management, settlement and land-use planning
Environmental water requirement
Disaster Management
Strategic Objective: Maximise security from water-related disasters
Action Areas: Flood and drought mitigation, extreme events, climate proofing
Knowledge Base
Strategic Objectives: Put an adequate knowledge base in place
Action Areas:
- Water resources and associated environmental data and information
Water use and demand data and information
Capacity & Institutional Strengthening
Strategic Objectives: Build sufficient capacity and institutional strength
Action Areas: Organizational & Institutional
Stakeholder Engagement
Strategic Objective: Promote high level of stakeholder engagement
Action Areas: Participation & Communication
Financial Sustainability
Strategic Objective: Ensure appropriate financing mechanisms are in place
Action Areas: Financing & Management
Management and M&E
Strategic Objectives: Promote adaptive management and effective monitoring and evaluation systems
Action Areas: Management
Climate Change Adaption
Strategic Objectives: Promote the mainstreaming of adaptation to potential impacts of climate change into planned actions
Action Areas: Mainstreaming of Climate Change
Gender Mainstreaming
Strategic Objectives: Ensure the mainstreaming of gender considerations into planned actions
Action Areas: Gender mainstreaming