SADC to Convene a Hybrid (Face to Face and Virtual) Joint Meeting of Committee of Ministers Responsible for Energy and Water on 2nd December 2021

The Joint Meeting of Committee of Ministers Responsible for Energy and Water in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will take place on 2nd December 2021 through a hybrid mode of delivery and chaired by the Republic of Malawi, to be held in Blantyre, Republic of Malawi. Ministers will deliberate on programmes of regional dimensions in support to the implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-30 particularly programmes for infrastructure development of the two sectors. 

In the energy sector, the deliberations will focus on the short, medium and long-term solutions to address security of energy supply in the Region, proposal on development of a Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF) and progress on signing of the Agreement Amending SADC Protocol on Energy of 1996. The Ministerial meeting will also, among other issues, consider operationalisation of SACREEE as a legal entity through signing and ratification of the SACREEE Intergovernmental Memorandum of Agreement (IGMoA), modalities of strengthening the Regional Energy Regulators Association (RERA) and discuss progress on the development of Regional Gas Master Plan – Phase II. 

In the water sector, the Ministers will consider for approval the fifth Regional Strategy Action Plan (RSAP V) on Integrated Water Resource Development and Management, implementation of the SADC Groundwater Management Phase II Programme and the SADC Response to COVID-19 Impact in the water sector. The Ministers will further consider the status of the SADC COVID-19 Border Post Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Response Project, the SADC Water Fund Infrastructure Development Projects and the report on River Basin Organisations/Shared Water Course Institutions programmes. 

Ministers will further consider crosscutting issues such as Water, Energy and Food Security (WEF) Nexus Programme to enhance synergy in addressing challenges facing the three (3) sectors.

Ahead of the Ministers meeting, the SADC Senior Officials responsible for energy and water will hold their meeting on 29th and 30th November, 2021 to prepare and clear documents for consideration and deliberation by the Ministers.