The National Water Policy is a sectoral document aiming to guide sustainable development and management of water resources for multipurpose use and provision of potable water supply and waterborne sanitation services for socio-economic development while enhancing the country’s natural ecosystems. It provides guidance to all stakeholders in the water sector to sustainably develop, manage, utilize, and conserve the country’s water resources with a view to meeting the goals set out in Malawi 2063 and the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goal number 6 (SDG 6), which aims at ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Furthermore, this Policy will act as a guiding tool for improving disaster risk management practices, institutional arrangements and capacity, sectoral coordination and financing and investment, and for effectively mainstreaming and integrating crosscutting issues in the water sector such as gender, green environment, climate change, R&D and ICT. The objectives of the National Water Policy are (i) reinforce the adoption and application of Integrated Water Resources Management principles in the water sector for the efficient and sustainable development, utilization and management of water resources; (ii) promote prudent catchment management to sustain the quantity and quality of both surface and groundwater resources; (iii) promote active participation of citizen in water resources development management and utilization; (iv) increase availability of sufficient quantities and quality of water supply and waterborne sanitation services in the country; (v) promote fair pricing and charging systems of water services that takes cognizance of both the right to water and water as a social and economic good in order to institute cost recovery principles; (vi) guarantee water security at all times; (vii) strengthen the country’s resilience to the adverse effects of flood and drought hazards, epidemics, and pandemics; (viii) develop capacity of the water sector institutions and service providers, within harmonised institutional and legislative framework; (ix) improve public and private financing, investment, as well as strengthen proper coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the water sector; (x) strengthen the mainstreaming of crosscutting issues in the water sector. The Policy identifies the following 7 priority areas, aimed at ensuring sustainable water-resource management, improved water and sanitation services, stronger institutional capacity, and greater resilience (1) Water Resources Management and Development, focused on the sustainable development, conservation and management of Malawi’s surface water and groundwater resources. It promotes Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), improved catchment protection, increased water-storage and harvesting infrastructure, strengthened surface-water and groundwater monitoring, protection of water quality, and enhanced cooperation with neighbouring countries in managing transboundary water resources; (2) Water Supply and Waterborne Sanitation, seeking to increase access to safe and sustainable water supply and waterborne sanitation in urban, peri-urban, town, and rural areas. Key measures include constructing, rehabilitating and expanding water and sanitation infrastructure; improving system management and reducing water losses; promoting appropriate pricing and cost recovery; developing strategic water reserves, recycling and reuse; strengthening regulation; and building the capacity of utilities and community-based management structures; (3) Disaster Risk Management, aiming to strengthen the water sector’s resilience to floods, droughts, epidemics and pandemics. It promotes structural and nature-based flood-mitigation measures, the “Living with Floods” approach, resilient construction in flood-prone areas, improved early-warning systems, dissemination of disaster information, use of scientifically validated local indigenous knowledge, and preparation of contingency plans for the water sector; (4) Institutional Arrangements and Capacity Development, focused on establishing more effective and streamlined institutional arrangements and strengthening the capacity of institutions and service providers in the water sector. Measures include periodic institutional reviews, capacity-development plans, recruitment and training of qualified personnel, establishment of professional associations, registration of water-resource professionals, and improvement of academic curricula; (5) Sectoral Coordination, Financing and Investment, seeking to strengthen coordination among water-sector actors and secure adequate public and private financing for water programmes and infrastructure. It provides for an operational Water Sector Working Group Secretariat, a National Water Sector Strategy and Investment Plan, programmatic rather than fragmented project-based financing, resource-mobilization and financing strategies, increased public budget allocations, and greater private-sector participation through appropriate public-private partnership arrangements; (6) Legal, Regulatory and Governance Framework, aiming to create a coherent and effective framework for governing the water sector. It calls for reviewing and harmonising water legislation; strengthening regulation of water-service providers and other sector actors; regularly aligning national water laws and policies with relevant international water instruments; improving data collection, management and protection; and establishing harmonised monitoring, evaluation and information-management systems; (7) Crosscutting Issues, to integrate broader social, environmental and technological considerations into water-sector policies, programmes and budgets. It covers gender mainstreaming, equity and social inclusion; green environment and climate change; research and development; ICT; and responses to epidemics and pandemics. Measures include inclusive participation and gender-responsive WASH facilities, integration of climate considerations and information into water planning, stronger research and dissemination of findings, greater use of ICT and new technologies, and development of approaches for managing epidemics and pandemics within the water sector.
Malawi · 2023-01-01