Zambezi River Basin

vii

sector. However, there is no single focal point to manage the

resource. The need to formalise the cooperative framework

and further strengthen basin-wide cooperation remains

a challenge.

Among the policies and strategies for coordination and

management is the Zambezi Watercourse Commission

(ZAMCOM), an agreement signed by most of the Zambezi Basin

states in 2004. To date, seven of the eight Basin states have

signed the agreement with the exception of Zambia, and six

have ratified the agreement. The remaining states have shown

commitment to speed up signing and/or ratification. Through

the ZAMCOM Agreement, the riparian states of the Zambezi

River Basin envisage working together to develop and manage

the shared water resources of the vast basin. The agreement is

designed to help the riparian states to unlock the potential of

the Basin in contributing to the socio-economic development

of the Basin states and the region as a whole.

The Zambezi River Basin states have established the Interim

Secretariat for the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (IZS)

hosted by the Government of Botswana in Gaborone. The

initial responsibility of the Secretariat is to coordinate and

inform the riparian states of the expected steps needing their

support towards the realisation of the ZAMCOM agreement

and its vital governance organs. The establishment of the

IZS means that the riparian states of the Zambezi Basin have

a forum through which they can deliberate and plan the

efficient management and development of the river basin

resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

This Atlas supports initiatives of the African Ministerial

Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) through the Africa

Atlas of Our Changing Environment and the Africa Water Atlas,

both UNEP-led initiatives, as stated in Decision 8 of the 12

Session of AMCEN.

The project is implemented by the Southern African Research

and Documentation Centre (SARDC) through its environment

institute, the I. Musokotwane Environment Resource Centre for

Southern Africa (IMERCSA), in consultation with the Southern

African Development Community (SADC) Water Division, the

Interim Secretariat of the Zambezi Watercourse Commission

(ZAMCOM), and Zambezi River Basin stakeholders. SARDC

IMERCSA is the regional collaborating centre for southern

Africa for UNEP under the Africa Environment Information

Network (AEIN). Technical and financial support was provided

by GRID-Arendal.