UNESCO Office Windhoek compiled a directory of legislation and policies in the water sector in Angola, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland and South Africa. The directory includes legislation, policies and strategies in the five cluster countries, as well as descriptions of the respective countries organizational structure in managing fresh water. The latter mainly describes the institutions responsible for different aspects of water supply, management and use, including government departments, parastatal institutions, private organizations and individuals.

The compilation of the instruments not only presents the status of the water sector in the five Southern African countries, but also serves as reference at both regional and at country level to support discussions related to water sector reforms and processes of regional harmonization of water legislations.

During the 2nd African Water Week in Johannesburg in 2009, the need for compiling water-related legislation and policies in African countries was identified as an important contribution in providing policy support to the African Ministerial Conference on Water (AMCOW) and other regional and sub-regional bodies, such as SADC. Other recommendations of the meeting include measures related to financing water and sanitation infrastructure; managing trans-boundary waters; and water adaptation to climate change.

To access the directory, please click here.