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LIMCOM and IWMI sign landmark agreement

Summary

This strategic partnership will see LIMCOM and IWMI work together across several key areas, with a special focus on sharing and exchanging knowledge and information in a mutually beneficial manner.

LIMCOM and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at facilitating action for transboundary cooperation through enhanced data sharing and scientific collaboration.

 

The historic MoU was signed on 30 October 2024 on the sidelines of the 25th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWPSA Symposium, which was held in Maseru, the Kingdom of Lesotho from 30 October to 1 November 2024. LIMCOM Executive Secretary Mr. Sergio Sitoe signed the MoU on behalf of LIMCOM Member States, while Dr. Henry Roman, the IWMI Regional Representative for Southern Africa signed on behalf of IWMI.

 

This strategic partnership will see LIMCOM and IWMI work together across several key areas, with a special focus on sharing and exchanging knowledge and information in a mutually beneficial manner. The collaboration will uphold the highest standards of scientific quality, values, and ethics, ensuring that the research outcomes are shared in ways that maximize the impact of their joint activities. The key focus areas of collaboration are:

 

  • Ensuring Water Security in the Limpopo River Basin to strengthen water resources development and management planning towards a water-secure Limpopo River Basin, through scientific support. Key interventions will include mobilizing support to the LIMCOM Member States to align their national water initiatives to LIMCOM goals and to integrate the same into their National Development Plans (NDPs) and water development policies.

 

  • Strengthening Water Governance Systems and Management Structures to promote and facilitate investment-orientated transboundary management and governance of the Limpopo River Basin’s water resources. The focus will involve sharing knowledge products to enhance science to policy conversion; attracting investments for water resources development, utilization and management; and raising the profile of water, including institutionalization of the involvement of the basin’s Ministers responsible for Water Affairs in the LIMCOM Governance Framework.

 

Speaking at the signing ceremony, LIMCOM Chairperson, Engineer Gilbert Mawere from the Republic of Zimbabwe, who was represented at the event by Mr. Lawrence Ndere hailed the strategic collaboration between LIMCOM and IWMI saying it “marks the beginning of a partnership that promises to enhance transboundary cooperation through robust data sharing and scientific collaboration.”

 

“This is a pivotal moment in our shared journey toward sustainable water resource management in the Limpopo River Basin. This MoU represents a commitment to facilitate effective transboundary cooperation, recognizing that our collective action is essential for sustainable resource management. By leveraging the global expertise of IMWI and the local knowledge of LIMCOM, we can create a comprehensive framework for addressing the complexities of water governance,” Engineer Mawere said.

 

IWMI Country Representative for Southern Africa, Dr. Roman concurred, saying the MoU will strengthen water resources development and management planning towards a water-secure Limpopo River Basin, through scientific support. “This MoU which we have signed is a result of a partnership built over the last two decades and seeks to promote water security within the Limpopo River Basin through scientific support and capacity building,” he said, adding that partnership has seen the two organizations at the forefront of advancing the digital age, also known as the Digital Twins (DTs) in enabling smarter decision-making and operational efficiency in water management.

 

LIMCOM and IWMI are currently creating a prototype DT for the Limpopo River Basin, which will not only integrate real-time data from diverse sources, including smart sensors and citizen contributions but also directly involve local communities in data collection and validation, enhancing accuracy and stakeholder empowerment. This will improve decision-making in water management.

 

LIMCOM Executive Secretary, Mr. Sitoe said such collaborations with strategic partners is essential in managing the Limpopo River Basin, which is already facing significant challenges, including water scarcity, pollution, and the impacts of climate change.  “This MoU is very important as it paves the way for more collaboration in the development and management of the Limpopo River Basin for present and future generations.”

 

LIMCOM

The Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) was established through the LIMCOM Agreement signed in November 2003 by the Limpopo River Basin’s four Member States — Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The main objective of LIMCOM is to advise and “provide recommendations on the uses of the Limpopo, its tributaries and its waters for purposes and measures of protection, preservation and management of the Limpopo.”

 

IWMI

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is an international research-for-development (R4D) organization focused on addressing water and land resources in developing countries. IWMI conducts research that addresses key water and development challenges to improve livelihoods and safeguard the environment.

 

Media contacts

Should you require any additional information, kindly contact Mr. Kizito Sikuka – LIMCOM Communications Specialist at ksikuka@limpopocommission.org and/or Dr. Angie Garcia, IWMI Research Group Leader at M.GarciaAndarcia@cgiar.org

 

Press Release is also available HERE