Thrust 1: Co-operative Governance

In the context of a growing confidence in the instruments of democracy and participation, this thrust focuses on strength-ening and encouraging relevant and affected stakeholders in the water sector to agree and work towards achieving common goals. It promotes a governance system that includes all sectors of society, namely Government organisations, non-Government organisations, private sector and civil society. It focuses on developing an understanding of the opportunities for citizens to participate and influence deci-sions about water management. It assesses how the roles and participation of different stakeholders in water planning, the regulation of the water sector, monitoring and evaluation of the impact of service delivery can be strengthened and encouraged.

Thrust 2: Water for Transformation and Equity

South Africa’s water policy and legislation reflects a deep commitment to social transformation and justice. This thrust will investigate the possibilities for using water to redress the injustices of the past and to bring about a more just society. It will study the options for the reallocation of water for transformation and equity purposes, both on national and community scales. It will also investigate the extent to which gender, age and physical disability influence access to water resources.

Thrust 3: Sustainable Use of Water as a Scarce and Shared Resource

This thrust develops an understanding of different aspects of water scarcity in the context of enhancing sustainability of water systems. It will focus on investigating hydro-political issues at a local, national and regional scale. It addresses the dimensions and causes of scarcity of water in our society which include the inter-sectoral and transboundary sharing of water, water scarcity in relation to demand, water quality, and the roles of water in various economic and societal sectors. It investigates the social impacts of climate change on water resources and water supply systems. Appropriate research initiatives will aim at alleviating the impacts of scarcity and degraded water quality on society and the water environment, thereby reducing the potential for conflict, and promoting healthy co-operation with regard to integrated, sustainable management. Research in this thrust will support policy and decision-making regarding the allocation of water (over and above the Reserve) between competing groups, namely domestic, industrial and agricultural.

Thrust 4: Social Requirements for Sustainable Water

The focus of this thrust remains on analysing and understanding society’s needs for water services. This will lead to guidelines aimed at enhancing utilisation of limited water resources and finance in sustainable service provision. Such understanding will ensure that the real needs of society are known and addressed in a flexible and socially acceptable manner. Issues around institutional arrangements, hygiene and sanitation will be investigated.

Thrust 5: Poverty Alleviation

The focus of research within this thrust remains the linkages between water and poverty. This will lead to effective strategies for using water resources to break the poverty cycle and to promote food security.