SDGs and decentralizing water management for transformation: Normative policy coherence for water security in SADC river basin organizations

• Published in: Physics and chemistry of the earth. Parts A/B/C 2019-06, Vol.111, p.1-12
• Main Author: Nshimbi, Christopher Changwe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Integrated water resource management; Normative policy coherence for development; River basin organization; SADC; Water security
• ISSN: 1474-7065; 1873-5193
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pce.2019.02.010

This paper engages in a normative analysis of water security, in view of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the call for transformation. It examines the role of river basin organizations (RBOs) and integrated water resources management (IWRM) to water governance, and the extent to which they are consistent with water security for development in Southern Africa. The paper uses Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) and addresses essential questions regarding the extent to which RBOs in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) insofar as concerns SDG 6 achieve water security for people at the grassroots. The theoretical contribution of the paper includes the comparative examination of normative PCD and water security structures at RBO level in Southern Africa, and the extent to which RBOs reflect IWRM principles. Empirically, the paper highlights regional water policies regarding harmonization and coordination in the respective riparian states of and the RBOs, in line with the SADC's developmental objectives. As RBOs seem to prefer conserving, developing and utilizing water resources over people, they would do well to shift their focus on to people by adopting normative PCD, if they are to witness transformation. This would also be consistent with regional goals, which seek to bring the transformation agenda to the ground. •The SDGs suggest that development should be realized through “transformation”.•Theoretically, normative PCD and water security are compared, and how far they reflect IWRM principles.•Empirically, harmonization and coordination of water policies of riparian states in basin organizations are highlighted.•SADC's commitment to IWRM integrates core values essential for transformation in some of its key policy documents.•The core values have not been translated into SADC river basins' water resources management strategies.