This week, the 8th International REMCO Conference is taking place in Maputo, Mozambique. The event brings together over 150 participants from Mozambique, Eswatini, and South Africa - three countries that share the Incomati–Maputo basin - to strengthen resilience and governance in transboundary water management.
At the heart of REMCO lies the technical and operational exchange between the three catchment management authorities:
ARA-Sul IP (Administração Regional de Águas do Sul – Mozambique)
JRBA-PB (Joint River Basin Authorities Project Board – Eswatini)
IUCMA (Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency – South Africa)
Together, they collaborate on real-world water management challenges, such as:
- Improving flood early warning systems, especially after the flash floods in the Incomati Basin in 2023
- Implementing equitable water pricing
- Sharing hydrological data and models to improve forecasting and preparedness
- Jointly developing cross-border projects that benefit local communities
Blue Deal’s role
The Blue Deal partnerships in Eswatini, Mozambique, and South Africa actively support these authorities on these topics. During the conference, they facilitated knowledge exchange, helped shape discussions and committed to following up on the agreements made. Blue Deal’s Ethiopia Awash partnership also joined the conference, sharing key insights during a discussion on Basin Information Systems. This makes REMCO a powerful regional platform for co-learning, innovation, and inclusive decision-making.
Spotlight on inclusion
To support the topic of inclusive decision-making, the first day of the conference centered around women and youth in water management. Climate and water-related challenges often have the greatest impact on vulnerable people and the communities they live in. Tanah Meijers, Focal Point of Social Inclusion within the Blue Deal, emphasised that these individuals should not only be seen as stakeholders in solutions, but should be actively engaged as partners in designing those practical solutions.
As highlighted by Marieke van Nood, Blue Deal’s Programme Manager during her speech on the final day of the conference: “Together, we make transboundary water management practical and operational. And that is key for a future-proof Incomati – Maputo river basin”.