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Water, Resource Security and State Co-operation
The document examines how dwindling fresh water resources and population growth in Southern Africa increase the risk of resource-based conflict. It advocates for redefining security to include 'soft' non-military threats, such as ecological degradation and poverty, and suggests that regional co-operation through SADC and free trade can mitigate water insecurity. The text provides a detailed synoptic view of major river basins in the region, noting a paradox where the most economically developed areas (the south) have the scarcest water, while the north possesses abundant but under-utilised resources.
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Document type: Report
CLIMATE-HEALTH MESSAGES BUILD SUPPORT FOR CLIMATE ACTION
The study demonstrates that health-related climate messages are twice as likely to shift public attitudes compared to non-health messages across four countries. While a high baseline of concern for climate change exists globally, specific health themes—such as extreme heat, food and water insecurity, and children's health—consistently increase demand for urgent government action and policy support. The report emphasizes that the most impactful health messages vary by country, suggesting that communications should be tailored to local public health priorities to maximize effectiveness.
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Document type: Report
Mainstreaming adaptation to climate change - what hope for Ethiopia’s water sector?
The document examines Ethiopia's efforts to integrate climate adaptation into national policy, specifically highlighting the water sector as the primary medium for climate impacts. While Ethiopia has established a National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) and is developing the Carbon Neutral Climate Resilience Ethiopia (CNCR-E) programme, progress is hindered by resource shortages, fragmented governance across ministries, and technical capacity constraints. The text warns that international finance mechanisms focusing on 'additional' funding may inadvertently encourage peripheral 'add-on' projects rather than integrating adaptation into routine sector planning and budgeting.
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Document type: Briefing
Seeking capacity development results
The case study examines 'The Economics of Adaptation, Water Security and Climate Resilient Development in Africa' programme (2013-2015), which trained over 130 professionals across eight African nations. It highlights the effectiveness of combining professional workshops with mandatory Action Plans and mentor-mentee relationships to bridge the gap between training and implementation. Key outcomes included the integration of climate change into Tunisia's national planning terms of reference and the approval of a flood management project in Maputo, Mozambique.
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Document type: Case study
Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change: A SOURCEBOOK FOR THE CARIBBEAN WATER SECTOR
The document describes the 'Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change: A Sourcebook for the Caribbean Water Sector', which supports the implementation of the Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change and Implementation Plan. It is intended for water resources managers, utilities, and sector agencies to help them manage current climate risks and adapt to future changes through a four-phase decision-making cycle.
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Document type: Briefing
LESSONS FROM REDD+ FOR ACHIEVING WATER, ENERGY AND FOOD SECURITY IN INDONESIA
The report finds that while Indonesia's national development plans recognize the link between forest conservation and water, energy, and food security, significant implementation gaps and trade-offs persist. REDD+ has catalysed useful governance tools like the One Map Initiative and the Integrated Licensing System, but institutional efforts have been hampered by the use of ad-hoc agencies like BP REDD+. Furthermore, the report highlights that national food and energy targets, such as the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate, often conflict with forest conservation goals.
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Document type: Report
Water security and climate resilient development
The document outlines a framework for water security and climate resilient development, identifying climate-related risks such as flooding and drought, and mapping the necessary water services, supporting activities, and organizational stakeholders required to address them.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Investing in water security for growth and development
The Strategic Framework for Water Security and Climate Resilient Development, developed by AMCOW and GWP, outlines a four-phase approach to identify and implement 'no/low regrets' investments in Africa. It emphasizes the critical link between water security and macroeconomic stability, noting that hydrological variability can significantly reduce GDP growth in several African nations. The framework advocates for a shift from isolated adaptation projects toward mainstreaming climate resilience within national budgeting and planning systems, such as Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks. It highlights the importance of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and the use of Robust Decision Making (RDM) to ensure investments perform well across multiple climate scenarios. The document also addresses the need for diverse financing strategies, leveraging both traditional development funds and specialized climate finance like the Green Climate Fund, while promoting a transition toward a Green Economy and the inclusion of gender equality in water management.
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Document type: Guide
Climate resilient development: Experience from an African capacity development programme
The WACDEP capacity development programme (2012-2015) trained approximately 140 participants across eight African countries to identify and implement 'no/low regret' investments for water security. The programme emphasized national ownership, the use of local trainers, and the integration of training with active national policy processes. Key results included the enhancement of Burkina Faso's National Adaptation Planning process, the development of a funded urban flood management project in Maputo, Mozambique, and the revision of water and land planning Terms of Reference in Tunisia. The brief concludes that decentralised management and mentor-supported learning are critical for translating capacity building into tangible development outcomes.
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Document type: Briefing
Water Security for Development in an Uncertain Climate
The policy brief emphasizes that water security is a prerequisite for growth and development in Africa, noting that climate variability can significantly reduce GDP. It advocates for a strategy of 'no/low regret' investments—those that provide returns regardless of the climate scenario—to address the 'adaptation deficit' and minimize risks. The document calls for cross-sectoral coordination, increased investment in water management, and the exploitation of specialized climate adaptation funding, such as the potential Green Climate Fund, to build long-term resilience.
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Document type: Policy brief
Building on the Foundations of Integrated Water Resources Management
The policy brief emphasizes that water security is the primary medium through which climate change impacts will be felt in Africa, necessitating a cross-sectoral approach to development. It proposes using the existing foundations of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) to mainstream climate resilience across sectors such as agriculture, energy, and sanitation. The document highlights that effective coordination requires leadership from central government 'apex' bodies, such as a Ministry of Finance, rather than relying on a single line ministry. It cites Zambia's Sixth National Development Planning (SNDP) process as an example where water and climate change adaptation were consolidated across multiple sector strategies.
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Document type: Policy brief
Investing in water security for climate resilient growth and development
The document outlines a governance framework for achieving climate-resilient development in Africa, stressing that resilience must be mainstreamed into central government planning rather than treated as a separate agenda. It identifies a hierarchy of responsibility where central governments lead coordination, line ministries implement sector-specific policies, and local communities provide essential bottom-up perspectives. A significant portion of the brief focuses on the necessity of transboundary cooperation through Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and River and Lake Basin Organisations (RLBOs) to manage Africa's 53 shared river basins. Finally, it emphasizes that successful implementation depends on engaging non-state actors, including private businesses and civil society, through financial incentives and consultation.
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Document type: Policy brief
Investing in water security for climate resilient growth and development
The document advocates for Robust Decision Making (RDM) to manage climate uncertainty in water sector investments. It proposes a screening process to categorize investments into no/low regret, climate change risky, and climate change justified options, prioritizing those that provide benefits regardless of the climate scenario. It emphasizes addressing the 'adaptation deficit'—the backlog of investments needed to protect against existing climatic fluctuations—and suggests using sensitivity analysis and benefit-cost appraisals to refine development portfolios.
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Document type: Policy brief
Investing in water security for climate resilient growth and development
The document argues that achieving water security in Africa requires tens of billions of dollars annually, with climate resilience adding an additional US$10–15 billion. It suggests a blended financing approach combining traditional water finance, official development assistance, and specialized climate finance to bridge the funding gap. While most climate finance currently targets mitigation, the briefing emphasizes the need for adaptation funding and the role of the Green Climate Fund in supporting African water infrastructure.
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Document type: Briefing
HOW CAN INDONESIA ACHIEVE WATER, ENERGY AND FOOD SECURITY WITHOUT ERODING ITS NATURAL CAPITAL?
The document argues that Indonesia's economic growth is threatened by environmental degradation, specifically deforestation and peatland fires. While water security is prioritised across sectors, the energy and agriculture sectors focus on built infrastructure rather than forest conservation. The report highlights that ambitious food and bioenergy targets risk further deforestation unless productivity is increased or degraded land is prioritised. Governance is complicated by a complex legal framework and a disconnect between national plans and local government implementation. A case study in Aceh demonstrates that increasing oil palm yields to national averages could meet production targets without further land conversion, whereas 'business-as-usual' scenarios would require converting 220,000 hectares of land.
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Document type: Briefing
ACEH AND THE ARCHIPELAGO ECONOMY
The document examines the economic risks of deforestation in Aceh, specifically linking palm oil expansion on peatlands to increased flooding and potential 'stranded assets'. It argues that increasing agricultural productivity for palm oil and rice can meet government production targets while reducing the need for land conversion and protecting the Leuser Ecosystem.
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Document type: Briefing
Comments on proposed changes to the National Water Amendment Bill as published in GN 4097 in GG 49733 of 17 November 2023
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) provides detailed comments on the proposed National Water Amendment Bill, focusing on the protection of water source areas, the integration of climate change resilience, and the strengthening of public participation and enforcement mechanisms in water licensing.
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Document type: Statement
1.2-annexures-2-78fa702fbab040ea.pdf
This document consists of a series of legal submissions, correspondence, and technical reports related to an appeal against the granting of a mining right to William Patrick Bower (Pty) Ltd (WPB) for a coal mine near Belfast, Mpumalanga. The materials include a hydrogeochemical study on acid mine drainage (AMD) and decant management, a responding statement from BirdLife South Africa (represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights), and an internal appeal from the Escarpment Environment Protection Group (EEPOG). The central disputes concern procedural unfairness in the consultation process, the inadequacy of environmental impact assessments—specifically regarding biodiversity and water quality—and the lack of a sustainable mine closure plan.
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Document type: Report
2-cc55912e4e35173b.pdf
This legal document, submitted by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) on behalf of a Coalition, challenges the rezoning of the Yzermyn 96 HT farm from agricultural to mining purposes. The document details the environmental sensitivity of the Wakkerstroom area, the potential for irreparable harm to water resources and biodiversity, and the limited socio-economic benefits of the proposed Atha coal mine compared to the risks to local subsistence farmers and the eco-tourism economy.
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Document type: Report
2011-ifp-van-der-merwe-q1578-water-crisis-in-dukuduku-and-st-lucia-kzn-as-well-as-departmental-attempts-to-address-the-matter-d20472eb60a3aed9.pdf
This document is a draft written reply from the South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs to a National Assembly question (No. 1578) posed by Mr J H van der Merwe (IFP) regarding water shortages in the Dukuduku and St Lucia areas of KwaZulu-Natal.
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Document type: Briefing