Abstract:
This paper provides an assessment of the implementation of principles of integrated water resource management (IWRM)
in the Inkomati River Basin (IRB), shared by South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. A methodology with a set of
principles, change areas and measures was developed as a performance assessment tool. The tool was piloted in the IRB and
results from the application were used to refine and finalise the tool. Piloting of the tool did provide very useful insights
into IWRM implementation in the IRB and highlighted gaps where future attention needs to focus. Good progress has been
realised with respect to creating the enabling environment and institutional frameworks as the key principles of IWRM
have been successfully articulated in policy and legislation and a relatively satisfactory degree of stakeholder participation
achieved. Measures related to the IWRM implementation instruments seem to be the least developed, particularly the
financial enabling environment and institutional capacity building change areas. More attention also needs to be paid to
conflict resolution mechanisms. The results from the pilot also showed that countries should consider a phased approach to
assessment of IWRM, as implementation does seem to follow a process of creating the enabling environment, followed by
formulating and implementing the institutional framework and creation and application of IWRM management instruments.
