Develop competencies for effective collaboration across national boundaries in water resource and biodiversity management. This category addresses governance frameworks, stakeholder engagement strategies, and policy alignment essential for transboundary river basin organisations and conservation partnerships.

Target Audience: Government officials, transboundary basin organisation staff, NGO representatives, policy analysts, and practitioners involved in cross-border environmental cooperation.

Key Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand governance structures for transboundary water management
  • Apply effective stakeholder engagement techniques
  • Navigate policy and compliance frameworks across jurisdictions
  • Contribute to the Transboundary Biodiversity Learning Network (TBLN)

Cross-border Water Governance

Examine the institutional frameworks and governance mechanisms for managing shared water resources across national boundaries. This course focuses on the Inkomati Basin and broader Southern African context, including the roles of INMACOM, KOBWA, and REMCO.

What You Will Learn:

  • International water law: UN Watercourses Convention and SADC Protocol
  • Transboundary river basin organisations: structure, mandates, and operations
  • The Inkomati Basin: governance arrangements between South Africa, Mozambique, and Eswatini
  • INMACOM, KOBWA, and REMCO: roles and responsibilities
  • Benefit sharing and conflict resolution mechanisms
  • Environmental flows and ecological reserve in transboundary contexts
  • Data sharing agreements and information exchange protocols

Duration: 6–8 hours
Prerequisites: None
Language: English (Portuguese translation available)

Stakeholder Engagement

Build practical skills for engaging diverse stakeholders in transboundary biodiversity and water management initiatives. This course covers participatory approaches, communication strategies, and techniques for building trust and consensus across cultural and institutional boundaries.

What You Will Learn:

  • Stakeholder identification and analysis: mapping interests and influence
  • Participatory planning and co-design methodologies
  • Facilitation skills for multi-stakeholder workshops
  • Communication across languages and cultures
  • Managing conflict and building consensus
  • Traditional knowledge and community engagement ethics
  • Monitoring and evaluating stakeholder engagement effectiveness
  • The TBLN model: structured co-learning networks

Duration: 6–8 hours
Prerequisites: None
Language: English (Portuguese translation available)

Policy & Compliance Frameworks

Navigate the policy and regulatory landscape for freshwater biodiversity conservation and water resource management in Southern Africa. This course compares frameworks across South Africa, Mozambique, and Eswatini, with guidance on achieving compliance in transboundary contexts.

What You Will Learn:

  • South African water and environmental legislation: NWA, NEMA, and biodiversity acts
  • Mozambican regulatory framework: water law, environmental licensing, and protected areas
  • Eswatini water and environmental policies
  • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Water Use Licensing processes
  • Resource Quality Objectives (RQOs) and ecological reserve determination
  • Compliance monitoring and enforcement mechanisms
  • Aligning project activities with multi-jurisdictional requirements
  • Using INWARDS Compliance and RQO dashboards for regulatory reporting

Duration: 8–10 hours
Prerequisites: Cross-border Water Governance (recommended)
Language: English (Portuguese translation available)