Lessons from Transboundary Aquifer Cooperation in Africa: Ramotswa and Stampriet Aquifers

1. Implementing transboundary aquifer cooperation in Africa: Lessons learned from the Ramotswa and Stampriet Aquifers Jonathan Lautze, Piet Kenabatho, Thato Setloboko, Keodumetse Keetile, Pius Selebogo, Selabalang Gaebee, Kwazikwakhe Majola, Bertram Swartz, Tales Carvalho Resende

2. Overview • Background and Presentation Objectives • The RAMOTSWA Project: Objectives, Components, Achievements • The Stampriet/GGRETA Project: Objectives, Components, Achievements • Five Lessons Learned

3. Transboundary Groundwater Cooperation in SADC • 33 TBAs currently identified in SADC • TBAs area ranges from less than 400 km2 to more than 300,000 km2 • Ramotswa and Stampriet Aquifers are the two that have received initial focus • GGRETA/Stampriet phase 1 ran from 2013-2015, GGRETA/Stampriet phase 2 from 2016-2018 • RAMOTSWA phase 1 ran from 2015-2017, RAMOTSWA phase 2 from 2017-2019 • Opportunity to learn from achievements and challenges of these two parallel projects

4. Comparing Project Experiences: Ramotswa and Stampriet • Objective: Generate some lessons from these two initial experiences that can be applied elsewhere • Methods: Review/compare main objectives, activities, progress of the two projects to distil some lessons

5. The RAMOTSWA Project – Objectives • Overall objectives: • To support a long-term joint vision and cooperation on the shared groundwater resources of the Upper Limpopo region, where the states share significant and valuable underground freshwater resources as well as space for enhanced subsurface water storage. • To facilitate and promote joint management and better groundwater governance focused on coordination, scientific knowledge, social redress and environmental sustainability, in order to reduce poverty and inequity, increase prosperity, and improve livelihoods and water and food security in the face of climate change and variability. • To contribute to the building of trust and transparency in the development and use of groundwater resources in the border region

6. RAMOTSWA: From Phase 1 to 2 Major components of phase 1 • Baseline Report • Geophysical work • RIMS development • First steps toward JSAP • Major components of phase 2 • Hydrogeological modelling • MAR potential assessment • Ag-water Solutions • RIMS expansion • JSAP

7. Baseline Report • +/-Year-long effort to collect, compile, synthesize hydrogeological and socio-economic data in the RBTAA • Compilation of data from several institutions: Sep 2015 - April 2016 • Iterations with stakeholders: April-Nov 2016 • Five Key Issues • Understanding the resource • Groundwater contamination and vulnerability to pollution • Incongruity between water requirements and available water • Limited policy implementation • Access to water and sanitation for vulnerable people

8. Joint SAP

9. The StamprietTransboundary Aquifer System (STAS) • The STAS lies entirely within the Orange-Senqu River Basin. • The STAS covers a total area of 86 647km² (73% of the area in Namibia, 19% in Botswana, and 8% in South Africa). • The STAS is a large farming area with approximately 1200 farms (mostly in Namibia), out of which 80 are irrigation farms • Groundwater use: 52% irrigation, 32% stock watering, 16% domestic use • Area lightly populated (approximately 50 000 inhabitants)

10. The GGRETA project • Governance of Groundwater Resources in Transboundary Aquifers (GGRETA) project: • Funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) • Implemented by UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP) • Phase 1 (2013-2015): In-depth assessment of the STAS • Phase 2 (2016-2018): • Capacity-building modules on groundwater modeling, legal and institutional, and gender issues • Development of the STAS numerical model • institutionalizing cooperation over the STAS

11. Background and key dates • May 2017 (3rd ORASECOM Ground Water Hydrology Committee Meeting): • Namibia presented a proposal to nest the STAS Multi-Country Cooperation Mechanism (MCCM) structure into the ORASECOM Ground Water Hydrology Committee. • August 2017 (ORASECOM Council Meeting): • Commissioners supported the nesting of the STAS MCCM at the ORASECOM Council Meeting. • September 2017: • Study visit to the Observatory of the Sahara and Sahel (OSS) in Tunisia to share experiences on institutionalizing cooperation over transboundary aquifers. • November 2017 (ORASECOM Forum of the Parties): • Ministers responsible for water set milestones for the operationalization of the STAS MCCM:

12. Objectives of the STAS MCCM The over-arching objective of a STAS MCCM is to transition from GGRETA project-driven cooperation to permanent institutionalized cooperation among the countries sharing the STAS within the ORASECOM structure.  In the short term, the STAS MCCM will: • continue the joint study and characterization of STAS, • generate flow of data feeding the STAS borehole database and numerical model (once operational), and • report on activities at each meeting of the GWHC. In the long term, the vision is to move from data collection & exchange to joint strategizing/advising STAS countries on management of the aquifer and its resources.

13. Lesson 1 • Different options for Project Design • Some key alignment in approaches between the two projects • Baseline Report/TBA Assessment • Information Management System • Modelling • Dialogues • Some differences as well • RAMOTSWA undertook work on Agricultural Water Solutions, MAR and a Joint Strategic Action Plan • Stampriet/GGRETA has facilitated an MCCM

14. Lesson 2 Transboundary Aquifer Cooperation is a long haul In both projects, the better part of the first phase was devoted to getting a handle on the current situation Achieving an approximate/precise delineation for aquifers was a major endeavor Similarly, obtaining and synthesizing existing data took more than a year Cooperation oriented toward surface water has a reputation of being a long-term pursuit; groundwater oriented cooperation may be longer

15. Lesson 3 Knowledge Gaps Despite important progress in both projects, challenges remain on certain aquifer fundamentals Withdrawal Renewable recharge Implementation of a joint monitoring program – a recommendation falling out of both projects – may work to alleviate such knowledge constraints

16. Lesson 4 Consider the Basinwide RBO The Stampriet/GGRETA had the benefit of a basinwide RBO with a groundwater committee; The RAMOTSWA project did not have this benefit Existence of a strong RBO that gives focus to groundwater can be critical to elevate and sustain cooperation on a particular aquifer

17. Lesson 5 Conflict and Tension were not evident Sincere interest in advancing transboundary water cooperation Narrative of conflict over shared water resources was not apparent Bodes well for future efforts to advance transboundary aquifer cooperation elsewhere

18. j Thank You