Water and security in southern Africa

Water scarcity is identified as the potentially greatest future cause of conflict in the SADC (Southern African Development Community) region. The need for integrated, basin-wide, water resource management is considered a prime security objective for the prospects of SADC regional cooperation. Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) is involved in initiating a special task force on security in Africa to deliver an analysis of security issues, to compile information on the origins of conflict and available experiences on conflict resolution, and to propose relevant Swedish development assistance programmes, directed primarily at southern and eastern Africa. This study on the relationship between different types of water scarcities and potential conflicts related to water resources in the SADC-region was commissioned to provide preliminary information. The study has three main points of departure: (1) the policy implications of changing perceptions of security due to a scarcity of natural resources; (2) the necessity to treat water scarcity as a constraint for development along with population development, land use change, or changes in development strategy; and (3) the identification of research institutions with relevant capacity compatible with relevant policy documents, planning efforts in SADC countries, and the existing framework of regional institutions. Based on this, the study analyses SADC regional cooperation on water resources management for both conflict-generating and confidence-building elements. Background material used for the analysis, and references are collected in a number of appendices following the main report.