Over 100 key stakeholders from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region gathered in Maseru from 29–30 September 2025 for the 11th SADC Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Water, united by a shared concern: how do we sustainably manage and protect our shared water and land resources?
Under the theme “Promoting Water Security for Regional Integration and Industrial Development”, the dialogue brought together governments, regional bodies, private sector players, and civil society to explore innovative approaches to water and land management.
For Lesotho, and the ReNOKA programme in particular, it was a critical opportunity to show what integrated catchment management looks like in practice — and how it can be scaled regionally.
“Green infrastructure is not optional” — ReNOKA’s call for scalable solutions
Makomoreng Fanana, National Coordinator of Lesotho’s Integrated Catchment Management Unit, represented ReNOKA and emphasised the urgency of investing in both green and grey infrastructure.
“We cannot only build grey infrastructure – dams, solar plants, and so on – we also need green infrastructure. Degraded wetlands reduce water absorption, threaten food production, and put livelihoods at risk — not only in Lesotho but across the region,” said Fanana.
ReNOKA’s work highlights how restoration of wetlands and sustainable land practices are vital not just for local communities, but for downstream water users across the Orange–Senqu River Basin.
Fanana called on public and private partners to join hands in securing long-term financing for these critical ecosystem services. “We all use these ecosystem services,” he noted, “and we all need to invest in them.”
ReNOKA’s model: From community partnership to private sector collaboration
ReNOKA’s integrated approach includes community engagement, private sector partnerships, and innovative finance tools. A flagship example is the Aranda–ReNOKA blanket — a collaboration where 10% of sales go directly to fund community ecosystem restoration projects.
“To finance these measures, we are looking at public–private partnerships and mechanisms such as Payments for Ecosystem Services,” said Fanana. “We ultimately need to pay for the services we use.”
A regional imperative, a collective vision
The 11th SADC Multi-stakeholder Water Dialogue made clear that sustainable water and land management is a regional imperative, especially in the face of increasing climate uncertainty and economic interdependence.
Dr. Patrice Kabeya, Senior Programme Officer – Water at SADC said, “water is instrumental in regional development and integration, an enabler of regional value chains development, and assuring water security for livelihoods and industrial development”.
Key dialogue outcomes included:
- Exploring risk-informed water infrastructure solutions that support trade and regional value chains.
- Strengthening cross-sector collaboration among River Basin Organisations (RBOs), Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), private sector, and civil society.
- Aligning water sector priorities with Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for inclusive and climate-resilient growth.
A Shared Commitment
ReNOKA’s presence at the 11th SADC Dialogue underscores Lesotho’s commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable land and water governance. As the region works toward integrated, inclusive development, the call for collective action has never been clearer.
