Session 9: A regional collabroation: Different approaches
This paper reports on the results of an investigation into the contribution of cooperative management of water resources to regional integration in SADC. The study found that, while a few bilateral projects had contributed to economic development, there was little evidence of a systemic contribution to formal integration. An evaluation of the opportunities and constraints suggests that more effective intersectoral coordination at national level to make better use of resources to stimulate industrial development is the first priority. A more general conclusion is that a functional approach to integration that seeks and supports practical opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation is more likely to succeed than a focus on generic regional institution building.