Ministers responsible for Energy and Water in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will meet to deliberate on strategic issues aimed at strengthening regional energy security and improving water resource management.
The joint meeting will take place from 14 - 17 July 2026 in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, in a hybrid format.
“[The meeting will] deliberate on strategic issues aimed at strengthening regional energy security, improving water resource management, and accelerating sustainable socio-economic development across the SADC region.
“The meeting will bring together Ministers, Senior Officials, representatives of the SADC Secretariat, Regional Institutions, Cooperating Partners and other stakeholders to review progress in implementing regional programmes and projects in the energy and water sectors, while providing policy direction on emerging priorities,” the SADC said in a statement.
The Ministers meet ahead of the 46th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, which will be held in August.
Energy Ministers are expected to review the electricity demand and supply in the region and assess progress made in “implementing regional energy projects designed to strengthen energy security”.
“Discussions will also focus on expanding renewable energy deployment, promoting energy efficiency, advancing the implementation of the Dar es Salaam Declaration on Mission 300 to increase electricity access in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, and promoting the development of hydrocarbons infrastructure, including fuel pipelines and storage facilities.
“Ministers will further deliberate on emerging technologies such as green hydrogen, smart grids and electric mobility, progress towards a regional Just Energy Transition Framework, clean cooking initiatives, and the outcomes of the 2026 SADC Sustainable Energy Week,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Ministers of Water will turn their attention to “progress made in implementing regional water and sanitation projects, transboundary water initiatives coordinated through River Basin Organisations and Shared Water Institutions, as well as the implementation of previous Council decisions”.
“The meeting will also review progress under the SADC Groundwater Programme and the SADC Water Fund, while considering the extension of the implementation period for the Fifth Regional Strategic Action Plan (RSAP-V) to 2030.
“In addition, Ministers will discuss the review of the Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses, human capacity development, and the Regional Research Agenda,” the statement continued.
The outcomes of the meeting will provide guidance for accelerating implementation of the SADC’s regional programmes aimed at achieving the objectives of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020-2030), the African Union Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“The Joint Meeting forms part of SADC's continued efforts to promote regional integration through coordinated policy implementation, sustainable infrastructure development, improved access to reliable energy services, enhanced water security, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za
