Introduction to IWRM
The South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF), with the assistance of the Royal Danish Government (DANIDA), initiated a programme in 2000 to pilot Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approaches in three water management areas of South Africa. These are the Crocodile West – Marico (mainly in North West Province), Mvoti to uMzimkulu (Kwa-Zulu Natal) and Olifants-Doorn (mainly in Western Cape Province). These WMAs were selected as they represent a cross-section of water resources conditions as well as water use conditions and user interests.
 

IWRM Phase I (2000 – 2004)
What is termed as IWRM Phase I was implemented with the assistance of a Danish service provider and was concluded in December 2004. The main purpose of the first IWRM programme was to develop a number of guidelines related to groundwater, water conservation and demand management, and to provide support to water management institutions such as water user associations (WUAs) and catchment management agencies (CMAs). The guidelines were tested through a series of pilot projects. The results of these projects in many cases, particularly in water conservation and demand management, have been taken on board by the municipalities involved.

An important component of IWRM I focused on the empowerment of marginalised groups through integrated capacity building programmes that involved face-to-face training and their active involvement in small pilot or microprojects that demonstrated the benefits of IWRM to their daily lives.

Click here to access resource, documents and guidelines from the IWRM I Phase.

IWRM Phase II (2006 – 2010)
The second IWRM programme is different from the previous phase in that it is being implemented through direct support and it is driven by a partnership between DWAF, the South African Government Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). The programme further supports the CMA establishment process in the start-up phases, and provides stakeholder capacity building to specific marginalised groups and local authorities.

A significant part of the DANIDA support addresses many of the issues that were discussed at the 2006 National Water Summit, and relates to the integration of IWRM into service delivery. IWRM II builds upon the experiences of IWRM I, working with beneficiaries to design and implement a broad spectrum of projects that include: water awareness and conservation, food security, wetland conservation, water reuse, grey-water irrigation systems, and support to emerging farmers and water reform.

For more information visit www.iwrm.co.za