Southern Africa: Building National Governance Mechanisms for Inclusive and Sustainable Water and Energy Resources

Southern Africa is a region with great potential. However, the region faces a number of critical challenges, including the water and energy challenges that are exacerbated by climate change. Access to clean and sustainable water and energy resources is at the origin of efforts to reduce poverty for the population of the region. As said His Excellency Lieutenant General Dr. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of the Republic of Botswana, at the SADC's special ministerial workshop on water and energy the June 20, 2016: "Energy and water are essential ingredients for the SADC region. advance economic development, regional integration and poverty reduction strategies. "Improved access to water and energy will have a positive impact on other aspects of life such as health, education and the environment. general economic development

Political actors and local communities building inclusive, sustainable and accessible national water and energy resource governance mechanisms, to which political actors and local communities must have knowledge, relevant information, tools and instruments to design, implement and monitor targeted policies that can improve the management of water and energy resources in their respective countries and communities. This is the main goal of the Southern African Dialogue and Political Parties Program (SAPP & D).

SAPP & D seeks to strengthen the democratic structures and institutions of political parties in Botswana, Lesotho and in Malawi to better meet the needs of society. particularly in the areas of water and energy resource management. In this way, the SAPP & D program also aims to contribute to the realization of the strategy and action on renewable energies and energy efficiency of the SADC, to the regional program of hydraulic infrastructures. of the SADC and the deepening of democratic governance in the region. strengthen the capacity of political parties to develop and implement participatory policies for access to sustainable water, clean water and clean energy, using factual knowledge, while strengthening a democratic political culture that promotes the meaningful participation of women, youth and marginalized people. The program will also facilitate the creation of a regional network in Southern Africa through which political parties and other stakeholders in the targeted countries can share best practices, lessons learned and knowledge on their engagement in the management of Southern Africa. energy and water resources.

SAPP & D is implemented by Democracy Works Foundation, in partnership with the Center for Multiparty Democracy in Malawi (CMD-M) and Freedom House Southern Africa (FH-SA) and is supported by the Agency for international development. (YOU SAID). CMD-M is a membership organization for political parties that are represented in the National Assembly of Malawi. It aims to ensure the entrenchment of multiparty democracy in Malawi. The FH-SA has focused on strengthening elections and civic mobilization, good governance, the defense of human rights, the rule of law and an independent media

SAPP & D is currently finishing its start-up phase. Currently, the program conducts a Political Economy Analysis (PEA) in each of the program countries and in the region. The aim of the PEA is to carry out a situational badysis of the management of energy and water resources, to identify and badyze the key actors in the water and energy sectors for the development or implementation water and energy policies and strategies and badyze the incentive frameworks of key actors and actors involved in the management of energy and water resources. We also seek to examine the impact of regional policies and actors on local water and energy management and to study transboundary water management and common energy consumption. .

SAPP & D is evaluating the capacity of political parties to manage their organizations, create inclusive structures and make inclusive policies, particularly around energy and energy management and access. # 39; water. These badessments will lead to the development of action plans to help political parties develop relevant policies and systems.

At the end of this data collection, SAPP & D will seriously begin developing action plans and implementing capacity building programs. political parties. Through SAPP & D, political parties will develop more inclusive and democratic structures that will be able to meet the needs of their constituents and develop a policy based on the needs of citizens.