The SADC Groundwater Management Institute proudly announces its highly successful collaborative participation at World Water Week 2025. This significant engagement brought together key regional partners, including Baseflow, the Cuvelai Watercourse Commission, the Global Water Partnership – Southern Africa, Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission, Limpopo Watercourse Commission, World Vision – Zimbabwe, and the Zambezi Watercourse Commission, to collectively showcase the SADC region’s advancements in sustainable water management. The participation encompassed a prominent booth, a dynamic Talk Show, and active contributions to various sessions throughout the week. Commenting on the successful collaboration, Eng. James Sauramba, SADC-GMI Executive Director, emphasized the strategic importance of the event: “World Water Week serves as a crucial platform, offering invaluable opportunities for cooperation. It enables our region to effectively showcase the impactful work we undertake in water management and climate action. This year, we were particularly successful in elevating our initiatives and learning best practices from other leading regions around the globe.”
Mr. Phera Ramoeli, OKACOM Executive Secretary, highlighted that this year’s World Water Week emphasized the fundamental role of water in climate change, adaptation, and mitigation. He emphasized water’s critical role as a universally shared resource, essential for achieving global resilience and sustainable development.
A Hub of Innovation: The SADC Region Booth
The SADC Booth was the focal point for our SADC Representatives.
Our dedicated SADC region booth served as a vibrant focal point, attracting considerable attention and establishing itself as one of the busiest installations at the event. Through innovative short video demonstrations, informative brochures, and interactive QR codes, partners effectively showcased their critical work and demonstrated the cutting-edge water solutions being implemented across the SADC region to address pressing climate action challenges. The high volume of visitors from diverse parts of the world provided invaluable opportunities for our team to engage directly with stakeholders, elaborate on our impactful initiatives within the SADC region, and highlight the tangible difference our work is making in the lives of both governments and communities.
Illuminating Discussions: The “Investing in Groundwater for Climate Action” Talk Show
From left: Kanika Thakar, host of the World Water Week Talk Show, and Eng. James Sauramba – SADC-GMI Executive Director, Anders Jägerskog – World Bank Programme Manager, and Mr. Phera Ramoeli – OKACOM Executive Secretary
A cornerstone of our participation was the highly successful Talk Show, expertly convened under the theme “Investing in Groundwater for Climate Action.” This engaging session featured a distinguished panel of prominent speakers from both the SADC region and international organisations. Our esteemed panellists included. Eng. James Sauramba SADC-GMI Executive Director; Phera Ramoeli OKACOM Executive Secretary; and Anders Jägerskog Programme Manager – World Bank. During the session, our panellists comprehensively unpacked several critical challenges facing both surface and groundwater management within the SADC region. Key discussion points revolved around:
- The pervasive unavailability of reliable data
- Sustainable investments in groundwater infrastructure and research
- Robust policies to guide the strategic implementation of groundwater projects
- Capacity development to empower local expertise and institutions
The Talk Show concluded with a highly interactive question-and-answer session facilitated by Ms. Batanayi (SADC-GMI Environment and Social Management Specialist), providing a valuable platform for participants to directly engage with the panellists and explore potential solutions to the challenges highlighted.
Forging Partnerships: Bilateral Engagements
The SADC Groundwater Management Institute, the Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission, the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature connected with the representatives from the Blue Deals Program of the Netherlands, at the SADC Region Booth.
Beyond the public showcases, SADC Representatives strategically leveraged their presence at World Water Week for a series of productive bilateral meetings with existing and prospective partners and financiers. These focused discussions were instrumental in strengthening collaborations, exploring new funding avenues, and aligning efforts towards shared goals in water security and climate resilience for the SADC region.
Sindy Mthimkhulu of the Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission reported that World Water Week offered an excellent platform for connecting with institutions focused on water security. A significant highlight was her participation in the “Digital Innovations for Water in Africa” session, convened by the International Water Management Institute, which showcased groundbreaking solutions for water challenges, including climate change. This experience reinforced INMACOM’s commitment to a water-secure future for the continent.
Looking Forward: Water for People and Progress
The closing remarks from Jon Lane, Chair of the Scientific Programme Committee for World Water Week, powerfully underscored the urgency of climate action, stating, “We have recognized that climate change is the most critical issue humanity has ever faced, and we dedicated this World Water Week not just to water and climate, but to Water for Climate Action.”
Looking ahead, Mr. Lane announced the theme for World Water Week 2026: “Water for People and Progress.” This forward-looking theme acknowledges the persistent global injustices and inequities in water access, with billions still lacking essential water services. The 2026 event will specifically seek to address these disparities and explore actionable strategies to ensure a more just and equitable water-secure future for all people. SADC-GMI is committed to contributing actively to this vital global discourse, building on the successes and insights gained from World Water Week 2025.
The End!