Sustainable Development of Groundwater Sources under the Community Water Supply and Sanitation Programme in South Africa - Programme Proposal Pre-Appraisal Report

Abstract

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in South Africa has approached NORAD with a Programme proposal for support to the urgently needed upgrading of the geohydrological services in the country. The importance of groundwater as a resource is increasing because of the current focus on community water supply and sanitation under the Reconstruction and Development Programme. The pre-apprasial mission observed that the status of geohydrological monitoring and information services is in a fragile and inadequate state because of inadequate resource allocations and loss of trained personnel during the last few years. As a conclusion, the mission recommends that NORAD support the proposed Programme. The mission has identified key issues of concern related to the content of the Programme and its intercations with other relevant activities that have to be addressed. It is recommended that the Department organise an objective oriented workshop to strengthen the project design in co-operation with key actors, target group representatives and other stakeholders.