Sector Adaptation Strategy and Adaptation Plan (SASAP) for Water Resources in Suriname

The Sector Adaptation Strategy and Adaptation Plan (SASAP) for Water Resources in Suriname outlines a framework to build resilience against climate-driven threats such as sea level rise, erratic precipitation, and saltwater intrusion. It identifies the water sector as a high-priority 'now' sector and proposes seven project concepts—ranging from vulnerability assessments and data system establishment to infrastructure rehabilitation—with an estimated total budget of USD 18.25 million. A central pillar of the plan is a gender-responsive approach, addressing the disproportionate burden on women in water collection and their underrepresentation in governance, while integrating local and Indigenous knowledge into adaptation actions.

• Suriname's water resources are highly vulnerable to climate change, specifically through changes in precipitation, drought, sea level rise, and flooding. Saltwater intrusion is a critical threat that reduces irrigation water and affects soil fertility, potentially leading to food shortages.
• Climate-driven water variability directly impacts energy security; for example, a 2005 drought caused low water levels in the Brokopondo Lake reservoir, resulting in a power failure lasting 4 to 5 days.
• There are significant gender disparities in water security and management. Women often bear the primary responsibility for collecting drinking water, and they face specific vulnerabilities during climate crises, including increased care burdens and health risks during menstruation when water is scarce.
• Women are systematically underrepresented in Suriname's decision-making structures. As of 2021, women held less than 30% of seats in parliament and only 43% of positions among legislators, senior officials, and managers.
• The current legislative framework for water management is outdated, with the Water Supply Act dating back to 1938. Updating this framework is described as an 'urgent necessity' to support integrated water resource management (IWRM).
• The SASAP proposes seven priority project concepts to build resilience, with an indicative total budget of USD 18.25 million for the period 2022–2029. The most expensive projects are flood protection/drainage and infrastructure rehabilitation, each budgeted at USD 4.5 million.
• Proposed adaptive measures include the establishment of a national water authority and more water boards to coordinate climate change stakeholders and ensure a coherent approach to adaptation.
• The plan emphasizes the integration of local and Indigenous knowledge with scientific data to design adaptation actions, specifically targeting remote, Indigenous, and Maroon communities.
• To ensure sustainability, the SASAP includes a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework that tracks quantitative outputs (like the number of reservoirs) and qualitative outcomes (such as the equity of benefits across different genders and social groups).

APA

Dazé, A., Fat, A. T. S., Crawford, A., Tadgell, A., & Farrow, T. (2022). Sector Adaptation Strategy and Adaptation Plan (SASAP) for Water Resources in Suriname. NAP Global Network. https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/napgn-en-2022-suriname-sasap.pdf

Chicago

Dazé, A., A. Tjon Sie Fat, A. Crawford, A. Tadgell, and T. Farrow. Sector Adaptation Strategy and Adaptation Plan (SASAP) for Water Resources in Suriname. NAP Global Network, 2022. https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/napgn-en-2022-suriname-sasap.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dazé |first1=A. |last2=Fat |first2=A. Tjon Sie |last3=Crawford |first3=A. |last4=Tadgell |first4=A. |last5=Farrow |first5=T. |title=Sector Adaptation Strategy and Adaptation Plan (SASAP) for Water Resources in Suriname |publisher=NAP Global Network |date=February 2022 |url=https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/napgn-en-2022-suriname-sasap.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{daz2022sector, author = {Dazé, A. and Fat, A. Tjon Sie and Crawford, A. and Tadgell, A. and Farrow, T.}, title = {{Sector Adaptation Strategy and Adaptation Plan (SASAP) for Water Resources in Suriname}}, institution = {NAP Global Network}, year = {2022}, month = feb, url = {https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/napgn-en-2022-suriname-sasap.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }