This year’s conference deepened dialogue among riparian countries on shared water challenges, with a strong focus on innovative approaches to climate resilience, improved governance structures, and sustainable financing for transboundary water security.
During the event, GWPSA delivered a technical presentation on “Building Capacities on Accessing Green Climate Fund (GCF) Funding and Blended Finance for Implementing Water Projects.” Representing GWPSA and the African Union’s Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) Multi-Country Readiness Programme, Mr. Bheki Ginindza, National Technical Coordinator for Eswatini, underscored the importance of regional coordination to unlock GCF funding and scale blended finance for water-related climate adaptation.
“We must synchronise national climate efforts for transboundary water security by formally aligning our Nationally Designated Authorities (NDAs) and Accredited Entities (AEs) behind priority projects. We need to strengthen their capacities on accessing Green Climate Fund (GCF) and blended finance for implementing water projects,” said Mr. Ginindza.
Mr. Bheki Ginindza speaking at the 2025 REMCO event
He further emphasized that aligning national development priorities and enhancing cross-border coordination remains essential for building climate-resilient water systems capable of withstanding increasingly frequent droughts and floods.
Launch of the INMACOM Transboundary Digital Innovation Hackathon (2025–2026)
Participants during the Launch of the INMACOM Transboundary Digital Innovation Innitiative
One of the major highlights of REMCO 2025 was the official launch of the INMACOM Transboundary Digital Innovation Initiative, a year-long collaborative hackathon running from 2025–2026. Designed under the Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission (INMACOM), the hackathon aims to drive youth-led digital innovation to strengthen transboundary data sharing, forecasting, and early warning capabilities across Mozambique, South Africa, and Eswatini.
The initiative, developed in partnership with HydroLogic, Blue Deal, and GWPSA, will bring together mixed-country teams comprising technical experts, young professionals, and water practitioners to co-design digital tools that enhance cooperation on floods, droughts, water quality, and real-time data interoperability.
The year-long programme will follow quarterly innovation sprints, generating prototypes built on existing regional platforms such as HydroNET, which is already operational in all the three countries. Activities will include regional design sessions, joint coding workshops, and capacity-building initiatives for youth innovation in water management.
The hackathon’s launch received overwhelming positive feedback, with strong enthusiasm from youth participants funded through the GEF-8 programme. According to the INMACOM Secretariat, representatives of all three member states expressed unanimous support for the initiative, recognizing it as a forward-looking step for regional digital cooperation and future skills development.
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Strengthening Dialogue and Regional Solidarity
The REMCO Conference hosted sessions on sustainable financing, digital cooperation, transboundary early warning systems, and community-led approaches to water governance. Delegates explored challenges faced across the basins, including climate-induced water scarcity, flood risks, and the need for improved coordination among national institutions.
In her remarks on behalf of the Commissioners of the Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission (INMACOM), Ms. Petunia Ramunenyiwa, Chief Director of the Department of Water and Sanitation of South Africa, praised REMCO for its longstanding contribution to integrated river basin management. She highlighted the importance of international cooperation in achieving sustainable water governance across the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Ms. Petunia Ramunenyiwa, Chief Director of the Department of Water and Sanitation of South Africa
Special sessions placed a spotlight on women and youth in water governance, reflecting REMCO’s commitment to inclusivity and intergenerational leadership in transboundary water management.
GWPSA’s participation at REMCO 2025 reinforced its mission to support Southern African countries in mobilising climate finance, strengthening institutional capacities, and advancing investment readiness for water security under the AU-AIP framework.
As the region continues to experience climate-induced water stress, increasing temperature variability, and extreme weather events, the insights and initiatives shared at REMCO, including the newly launched transboundary digital innovation hackathon, demonstrate the importance of innovation, regional solidarity, and coordinated investment planning in safeguarding shared water resources for sustainable development.