The National Water Strategic Sector Cooperation

Since 2015, Denmark and South Africa have been engaged in a Strategic Sector Cooperation focused on enhancing national water resilience for the benefit of South Africa’s people. In May 2023, the partnership entered its third phase.

South Africa is a water-scarce country, ranked 30th among the world’s most water-stressed nations. According to the 2022 National State of Water Report, 98% of the country’s available water resources are already allocated, with demand expected to rise. To secure future water access, the government is preparing a water reform while addressing key sector challenges.

Denmark faced similar issues in the past and implemented a successful water reform. Today, Denmark’s high-performing water sector is well-positioned to share its experience and green solutions with South Africa, including efficient and equitable public-private collaboration models

Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Strategic Sector Cooperation is implemented in collaboration with key South African partners under the leadership of the Department for Water and Sanitation (DWS), Danish partners led by the Agency for Environment Protection (EPA) and facilitated by the Danish Embassy in South Africa. Through exchange of technical expertise and  know-how this collaboration aims to contribute to delivering tangible results on the ground aligned with the priorities of the government of South Africa to the benefit of South Africa's people

Phase III work tracks:

The focus of the collaboration in phase III is on consolidation of results through the implementation of guidelines and tools developed in the following areas with research and innovation as a cross-cutting action;

  • Improving municipal water services by supporting the national priority of reducing non-revenue water through national implementation of tools and technical capacitation at municipal level;
  • Groundwater management supporting the development and roll-out of national regulations for the drilling of boreholes and groundwater management supplemented by the development of a national driller education accreditation system;
  • Improved water efficiency in industries including support to the preliminary steps for the development of a future regulation on water use efficiency in selected industries;
  • Contribute to sustainability and impact on the ground by creating linkages to investment finance for water services at municipal level.

 

Contact and further information

For further information on the The National Water Strategic Sector Cooperation, please contact the Embassy of Denmark in Pretoria: