THE NORTHERN DRAKENSBERG COLLABORATIVE

The Northern Drakensberg Collaborative (NDC), formalised in May 2023, is a partnership aimed at addressing water insecurity and unequal water access in the Northern Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area. This region, covering approximately 10,000 km2, is critical for water supply to four South African provinces, including providing up to 30% of the water used in Gauteng. The NDC focuses on the upper uThukela catchment, seeking to improve the stewardship of water and natural resources while enhancing food security and resilience to climate change for local impoverished communities. The partnership includes traditional authorities, NGOs, research institutions, and the private sector, operating across strategic pillars of governance, networking, research, implementation, and resourcing.

• The Northern Drakensberg Water Source Area is approximately 10,000 km2 in size and is vital for regional water security, supplying up to 30% of the water used in Gauteng, as well as providing water to the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and parts of the North West province (specifically Orkney, Potchefstroom, and Rustenburg).
• The region's water security is underpinned by grassland ecosystems, with over 80% of the water source area remaining in a natural condition. These grasslands act as sponges to absorb and retain water, supporting subsistence and commercial farming, as well as tourism.
• Despite its strategic importance for food, energy, and economic security, only approximately 10% of the Northern Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area is currently protected.
• The Northern Drakensberg Collaborative (NDC) was formalised in May 2023 as a multistakeholder partnership to improve the stewardship of water and natural resources, address lack of water access, and improve food security and livelihoods for impoverished communities, while responding to climate change.

APA

WWF South Africa (n.d.). THE NORTHERN DRAKENSBERG COLLABORATIVE. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/northern-drakensberg-collaborative-factsheet_mar25.pdf

Chicago

WWF South Africa. THE NORTHERN DRAKENSBERG COLLABORATIVE. n.d. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/northern-drakensberg-collaborative-factsheet_mar25.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF South Africa |title=THE NORTHERN DRAKENSBERG COLLABORATIVE |url=https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/northern-drakensberg-collaborative-factsheet_mar25.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfsouthafricandnorthern, author = {{WWF South Africa}}, title = {{THE NORTHERN DRAKENSBERG COLLABORATIVE}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/northern-drakensberg-collaborative-factsheet_mar25.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }