Maseru, Lesotho – The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will host the 11th Multi-Stakeholder Water Dialogue in Maseru, Lesotho, from 29 to 30 September 2025. The event is organised in partnership with the Government of Lesotho, with support from the German Government through GIZ.
The biennial dialogue brings together policymakers, practitioners, and representatives from key sectors such as water, energy, agriculture, environment, tourism, and finance. It serves as a regional platform to exchange ideas and tackle issues that link water management to industrialisation, poverty reduction, and integration across southern Africa.
This year’s meeting is being held under the SADC-GIZ Transboundary Water Management project in collaboration with the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa. The discussions will focus on the theme, “Water Security, Innovation, and Nexus Action: Watering and Enabling Regional Economic Development Corridors for Transformation in SADC.” The theme connects directly with resolutions made at the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, which centred on industrialisation, agricultural transformation, and energy transition.
Lesotho’s Minister of Natural Resources, Honourable Mohlomi Moleko, is expected to deliver the keynote address during the opening session.
The dialogue will explore the role of water in supporting climate-resilient economic corridors by adopting inclusive Water-Energy-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus approaches. Delegates are expected to consider institutional, financial, and technical solutions to strengthen governance and ensure water contributes effectively to regional development.
Sessions will also discuss innovative water management models and financing mechanisms that can advance climate-smart growth. The approach recognises that water is at the heart of regional value chains and that its effective management is key to boosting food security, trade, and resilience.
By bringing multiple sectors to the same table, SADC aims to develop a shared strategy for water’s role in shaping economic corridors that can drive transformation across the region.
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