1. Introduction

Groundwater is a critical resource for water security, economic development, and environmental sustainability in the SADC region. However, effective groundwater management relies on accurate and up-to-date data collection and management. The Groundwater Information Portal (GIP) serves as a centralized platform for storing and analyzing groundwater data across the region. To ensure its effective utilization, it is essential to build the capacity of stakeholders in groundwater data collection, management, and analysis. The Training on Data Collection and Management is designed to strengthen the technical skills of stakeholders—including government ministries, NGOs, academic institutions, and River Basin Organizations (RBOs)—in groundwater data collection, management, and the use of the GIP.

2. Objective

The primary objective of the training is to strengthen capacity among stakeholders in groundwater data collection, management, and GIP usage, thereby improving regional groundwater governance and decision-making. Specifically, the training aims to:

• Enhance technical knowledge on groundwater data collection techniques and quality assurance.
• Improve the ability of stakeholders to upload, manage, and analyze data within the GIP.
• Foster collaboration among Member States to promote cross-border data sharing and integration.
• Increase stakeholder engagement and participation in groundwater monitoring and research.
• Emphasize the need for a standardized data-sharing protocol among Member States and RBOs to ensure seamless groundwater data exchange and collaboration.

3. Timeline

The training will take place on March 31st, running concurrently with the Steering Committee Meeting to ride on the presence of Steering Committee members in addition to policy makers among other key stakeholders, who will be key in upscaling the usage of the GIP in the SADC region.

4. Target Groups

The training will be open to stakeholders involved in groundwater data collection and management, including:

• Government Ministries responsible for water resources, environmental management, and infrastructure.
• River Basin Organizations (RBOs) managing transboundary water resources in the SADC region.