International Workshop: Water for Sustainability through Integrated Local Governance & Provision of Sustainable Services
Benoni (South Africa)
17 – 18 March 2008
An international workshop entitled “Water for Sustainability through Integrated Local Governance & Provision of Sustainable Services” took place in Benoni, South Africa at the Kopanong Hotel and Conference Centre from 17 – 18 March 2008. The workshop was held as one of the main activities of a three year project (2005 to 2008) named “Capacity Building for Integrated Governance in the Management of Water and Sanitation in Uganda and Zambia”, which is funded by the Dutch government. Participants in the project include four local governments in Zambia, namely Lusaka, Chibombo, Chililabombwe and Chongwe; and two in Uganda, namely Entebbe and Jinja.
The main objectives of the workshop were:
- To address both the sustainability of water services management and delivery, and the role of water as a vehicle for sustainability;
- To address both aspects of sustainability through the lens of practical experience;
- To share lessons and results from the Capacity Building Project, and applicable good practices from other Municipal contexts;
- To discuss, agree and elaborate on the Water Campaign Guide; and
- To reflect on the advantages and challenges of integrated local governance with reference to:
- Integration of water resources and water services management
- Integration of water services functions at local level.
The workshop was attended by over 50 participants from all corners of the African continent. Some participants from overseas countries, such as Austria, were also present. Participants were comprised of officials from:- (i) ICLEI Africa member local governments; (ii) Local governments that have had working relationships with the ICLEI Africa Secretariat in water projects and similar initiatives before; (iii) Regional organisations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the United Council of Local Governments (UCLGA); (iv) Relevant national government departments/ministries such as the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) of South Africa; (v) Water utility companies such as Johannesburg Water; (vi) Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Water Information Network-South Africa (WIN-SA); (vii) River basin organisations such as the Inkomati Catchment Management Agency; and (viii) Private companies such as the Johannesburg-based Cobra Water Tech Ltd.
All the speakers noted the fact that water is a finite resource and needs to be protected, well-managed and utilised sustainably to meet current and future needs. They mentioned that the above can be achieved through among other strategies:- (i) improving water governance at all levels including local level, (ii) provision of sustainable services by engaging technologies that are responsive to, for instance, climate change, social and economic issues.
Some of the key lessons drawn from the workshop presentations, discussions and sessions were the following:
- Structured planning proved useful in all of the participating municipalities, setting a common path for municipal managers and their water and sanitation services structures.
- Consultation with stakeholders and the formation of partnerships with Community-Based Organisations is good practice, but it is particularly useful where limited resources require the participation of these parties in aspects of service delivery.
- National policies of decentralisation have strengthened the role of local governments in the provision or assurance of sustainable services, but there remains a case for some central coordination, for example in relation to regulation.
- Municipalities and their water services arms are becoming increasingly aware of water conservation and demand management as an important element of sustainability. Many are implementing initiatives to address this issue.
- Local governments in general and water services providers in particular typically have limited interest and involvement in water resources management. This is an interface that requires attention, but there are encouraging cases where municipalities have begun cooperating around shared water resources.
- The value of monitoring is increasingly recognised, especially to inform appropriate management action. Addressing unaccounted for water is a case in point.S
- Sanitation service provision remains one of the biggest challenges for local governments and water and sanitation services providers.
Overall the session concluded that municipalities participating in the Capacity Building Project have made significant progress in aspects of water and sanitation services provision and resource management, but that much more work is needed.
