IWRM Under spotlight as Zambia hosts International Water Symposium

By Pelekelo Liswaniso in Lusaka, Zambia


Zambia, which bustled with activity two months ago during the 27th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government summit, is under spotlight again this month when Lusaka, the capital, plays host to yet another international event - this time - a regional water symposium.

The 8th symposium under the auspices of Water Research Fund for Southern Africa (WARFSA), Water Net, Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWP-SA) and the Zambia Water Partnership (ZWP) provides a platform for researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders to exchange ideas on how best to resolve Southern Africa’s water problems. More than 200 delegates are expected from SADC member’s states.

The symposia have been held annually in the region for the past 7 years to facilitate the sharing and dissemination of research results in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).

IWRM is a process that promotes the co-ordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximise the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising sustainability of vital ecosystems

The symposium to be held at Cresta Golf View between October 31 and November 4 will, among other issues, focus on best water management practices and policies as well as sustainable water supply and sanitation.

Anti-poverty efforts around the world, guided by the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and country-level strategies, increasingly recognize the importance of good water management.

Southern Africa faces many challenges in the water sector, especially as most of the national economies in the region depend on agriculture or other water related activities such as fisheries.

Rainfall is the dominant source of water in the region and to address the water demands, most countries are undergoing reforms that are encompassing IWRM.

But for IWRM to take root, political will and involvement by all key stakeholders are essential - no wonder the wide spectrum of representation to the conference.

Delegates to the symposium are expected to address human development and socio-political aspects of water including conflict management and resolution, resource governance as well as issues of HIV/AIDS and Gender.

Other topics include Hydrology, Water and Environment, Water and Land, Water and Society, Water for People and Water Resources management.

The theme for this year: “Moving from Concepts to Practice” is an indication of the region’s enthusiasm to find practical solutions to this part of Africa’s water blues.

The theme could also be a reminder of the importance of practicing IWRM because of the sluggish pace at which principles have been applied, a development which could be ascribed to different levels of understanding of what practically needs to be done.

The last symposium was held In Lilongwe, Malawi, last year, where southern African governments were asked to commit significant proportions of their budgets to planning and management of water related issues as a strategy to enhance economic development in the SADC region.

Social scientists, researchers, engineers and policy-makers were also urged to equally be engaged in collective action plans to fight poverty and avoid the fear of looking ignorant in implementing water plans in their respective countries.

WARFSA was established in 1999 in order to contribute to the sustainable development and management of water resources in the SADC region.

The Fund exists to ensure that water is used in a sustainable manner that promotes social and economic development with due consideration to the ecological requirements.

It is a capacity building initiative that seeks to promote dissemination and utilisation of research results.

WaterNet, on the other hand, is a regional capacity building network established by training institutions from southern and eastern Africa.

The mission of the WaterNet is to enhance regional capacity in IWRM through training, education, research and community outreach.

GWP-SA is part the global GWP family. The mission of GWP-SA is to promote collaboration and sustainable utilisation and management of water resources in Southern Africa.

It aims to harness IWRM academics, policy makers and practitioners at the symposium.

GWP-SA Executive secretary Ruth Beukman said the symposium is a key annual activity that will greatly benefit policy-makers, academics, practitioners and ultimately all those that the partnership serves on the ground as well as the key cooperating partners.

This includes the donor community in identifying regional issues, gaps and priorities requiring further support.
The symposium in Zambia comes at a time when pressure is also high in the region to improve living standards.

Various options are being sought at different levels to improve livelihood and it’s not clear if IWRM is the solution for the multitude of problems facing the people in the sub-region.

IWRM practices still remain poorly understood or appreciated but the symposium organisers hopeful these are helpful despite the odds facing the region.

A renowned University of Zambia (UNZA)researcher Dr Daniel Nkhuwa, agrees that the contribution of the symposium to IWRM practices may still be a bit difficult to determine, especially that the region is still struggling, to a great extent, in defining IWRM.

Dr Nkhuwa was optimistic however that the symposium was also an effective tool for advocacy and sensitisation to raise the profile of the IWRM process.

Dr Nkhuwa, a lecturer in the school of mines, warned however that the “region must not be in a hurry to implement concepts we do not fully appreciate, or what the majority of stakeholders do not understand.

There are probably certain groups of people that have grasped the IWRM concept” he said in a recent interview.

Professor Nyambe Imasiku, founder member of ZWP and senior lecturer in the school of mines, said the idea of bringing different players in the water sector to the symposium “is a right step to bring all of us to the same level of understanding.

The symposium will certainly improve our understanding and do a great deal of good to bring everyone to the same understanding of what we mean when we talk IWRM.”
ZWP Chairman Osward Chanda appealed to various stakeholders in the water sector to participate in the symposium as it provides a strong base for networking.

Mr. Chanda also called for a sustained media campaign on IWRM so that the principles are clearly articulated to the people and enable the communities at grassroots to apply them.

“We should not confine IWRM to the academics and researchers because water affects everybody. Water is a cross-cutting issue. The media are a necessary tool,” he said.

Mr. Chanda who is also Director of the National Water and Sanitation Council (NWSC), a water regulator in Zambia, has since appealed to GWP-Southern Africa to assist bring to the symposium journalists from other countries to cover all sessions in a bid to help publicise the benefits of IWRM.

The symposium will be held in the wake of many other challenges in the water sector which include recent floods that hit the region, leaving 85,0000 people homeless, and almost 1,000 dead.


With support from SARDC IMERCSA and DANIDA