FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: 7th SADC Groundwater Conference - Investing in groundwater for climate action

We invite you to submit oral and poster abstracts for the upcoming 7th Annual Southern African Development Community (SADC) Groundwater Conference, hosted by the SADC Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI) in collaboration with regional and International partners. The conference is held annually, providing a platform for advancing knowledge sharing on sustainable groundwater management at national and transboundary levels across the SADC Member States.

The conference will be held from Wednesday, 19 November 2025, to Friday, 21 November 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa. When submitting an abstract, please note that we plan to hold this event in person.

We seek cutting-edge best practices and presentations addressing the theme and sub-themes below. However, all presentation topics that advance our groundwater knowledge are welcome.

Please direct all enquiries to thokozani@sadc-gmi.org.

Background

Climate action is both an environmental necessity and an opportunity to foster a healthier, more resilient, and prosperous world. By adopting effective measures, we can reduce the significant impacts of climate change and work towards a sustainable future for upcoming generations. Investing in groundwater is a critical strategy for climate action, as groundwater is vital in ensuring water security, supporting ecosystems, and adapting to climate change. Promoting managed aquifer recharge (MAR) techniques, including rainwater harvesting, infiltration basins, and recharge wells, can effectively replenish groundwater supplies and ensure long-term sustainability. Advocating water-efficient technologies in agriculture (e.g., drip irrigation) and industry can reduce over-extraction and preserve groundwater resources. Implementing robust monitoring systems and regulatory frameworks can prevent overexploitation and ensure equitable access. By prioritising the management of groundwater resources, governments, communities, and businesses can ensure the sustainability of water supplies for future generations while effectively addressing and adapting to the challenges posed by climate change. The inaugural SADC Groundwater Conference in 2018 focused on "Adapting to Climate Change in the SADC Region through Water Security - A Focus on Groundwater" with the two subthemes "Promoting climate change resilience through transboundary aquifer management and conjunctive surface and groundwater management in the SADC region" and "Towards an understanding of the impacts of climate change on groundwater resources and exploring climate-smart groundwater infrastructure options". The seventh SADC Groundwater Conference in 2025 builds on the first conference exploring the critical role of groundwater in addressing climate change and ensuring water security. The conference intends to explore how sustainable groundwater management can contribute to climate resilience and present actions from work done in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere.

Subthemes of the conference

Sub-theme 1: Groundwater and mitigation of climate change

Healthy groundwater systems support wetlands, forests, and other ecosystems that act as carbon sinks, contributing to climate mitigation. For example, groundwater discharges into the Okavango Delta through springs and seeps, maintaining water levels in lagoons and channels during the dry season. This discharge is crucial for sustaining the delta's ecosystems and wildlife. Groundwater sustains unique ecosystems, including salt pans and seasonal wetlands such as the Makgadikgadi Pans and Etosha Pan. The Etosha Pan is primarily fed by ephemeral rivers, such as the Ekuma, Oshigambo, and Omuramba Ovambo, as well as groundwater discharge. Groundwater helps regulate the salinity of the pan by diluting the salt deposits left after evaporation, creating a dynamic environment that supports unique halophytic (salt-tolerant) plants and microorganisms. The Rufiji Delta is a vital ecosystem that relies heavily on groundwater for its survival and functioning, as well as for maintaining water levels and supporting its ecosystems. Monitoring and protecting groundwater resources is essential to preserve a unique and vital ecosystem. This subtheme explores the interconnectedness of groundwater resources, climate action, and ecosystem health. The goal is to advocate for sustainable management practices that enhance resilience against global environmental challenges, underscoring the critical role of groundwater in achieving climate action and ecosystem sustainability.

**Sub-theme 2: Adaptation strategies for groundwater management **

Storing excess surface water in aquifers during wet periods for use during dry spells is an effective tool for climate action. In response to the severe drought in Cape Town (2017–2018), MAR was explored to store excess surface water in aquifers during wet periods for use during dry spells. MAR has been practiced in South Africa since the 1970s. In central Tanzania, MAR is being implemented to address water scarcity in the capital city of Tanzania, Dodoma, which involves capturing seasonal runoff and diverting it to infiltration basins to recharge aquifers. Pilot projects have been initiated to assess the feasibility of large-scale MAR throughout the SADC region, the Boteti MAR pilot study. The Boteti River MAR is considering several techniques to capture and store water in aquifers, including infiltration basins and ponds, recharge wells, sand dams, subsurface dams, and floodwater spreading. Conjunctive water management is an integrated approach to managing surface water and groundwater resources. In the SADC region, where water scarcity, climate change, and population growth pose significant challenges, conjunctive management is increasingly recognized as a critical sustainable water resource management strategy. However, successful implementation requires investment in nature-based solutions, data collection, capacity building, and governance frameworks. There are a few examples of planned conjunctive management in the SADC, but some coastal towns utilize surface water, springs, groundwater boreholes, and desalinated water to balance their water supply at different times and cope with extreme events. This subtheme would explore how conjunctive water management and MAR can be leveraged as key strategies for climate action, focusing on enhancing water security, mitigating droughts and floods, and supporting sustainable development.

Sub-theme 3: Equity and social justice

Groundwater access is often unequal, with marginalised communities facing greater challenges during climate-induced water shortages. Environmental and social safeguards in climate change are crucial for building resilience and ensuring that vulnerable communities are not left behind. Climate action must prioritise inclusive policies, legislation, and institutions that ensure fair and sustainable use of groundwater for all. Many communities face climate vulnerabilities rooted in historical injustices, such as colonialism, segregation, and unequal resource distribution. It becomes critical to leverage indigenous and local knowledge in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, support community-driven projects that address local climate challenges, and provide training and resources to help communities implement and sustain climate solutions. Climate action prioritising equity and social justice addresses the symptoms of climate change and tackles its root causes, creating a more equitable and sustainable region. The subtheme focuses on the intersection of equity, social justice, and climate action, exploring how climate solutions can be designed and implemented in fair, inclusive, and transformative ways. The aim is to share the benefits of climate action fairly, ensuring vulnerable communities are included in the shift to a sustainable future.

Conference modalities

The conference modalities included high-level plenary sessions focusing on the theme and sub-themes, technical presentations, and panel discussions led by the partners of the SADC-GMI. Partners and Stakeholders wishing to run special sessions and panel discussions under the sponsorship program must submit an expression of interest by 30 June 2025 and a programme in line with the conference's theme by 30 September 2025.

Submission of abstracts

Authors are invited to submit abstracts for both oral and poster presentations for the sub-themes outlined above. Authors are requested to indicate the sub-theme for which they are making submissions.

Deadline: 30 June 2025

Abstract specifications

The conference uses the EasyChair conference platform for abstract submissions. We request the authors to:

• Have a concise and informative title that accurately captures the scope of the presentation. • Authors are discouraged from using excessively long titles • Be written in English, French, or Portuguese • indicate the authors of the abstract and their affiliations with the corresponding author, clearly marked, and contact details provided • Provide the main results, the main conclusion, statement of the problem, objectives, methods, and results • Avoid using abbreviations • Be a maximum of 200 words • Provide keywords for the abstract (up to 5)

Abstracts will be peer-reviewed by the Technical Committee, which comprises representatives from universities, international institutions, and national governments.

Submission of abstracts

The Technical Committee reserves the right to reject or accept an abstract. By submitting an abstract, the authors commit to registering the presenting author by 30 August 2025.

Important dates

Submission of Expressions of Interest for the Sponsorship program: 30 June 2025 Submission deadline for abstracts: 30 June 2025 Notification of abstract acceptance: 15 August 2025 Confirmation by authors and presenting authors' registration: 30 August 2025 Final Program: 31 October 2025 Conference run: 19, 20, and 21 November 2025

Registration costs Early bird conference registration: 19 September 2025 Physical conference attendance: R4,500 or 240 USD (if paying outside South Africa)

Late conference registration: Physical conference attendance: R 5,500 or 290 USD (if paying outside South Africa)

Young professionals formally registered under the SADC-GMI Young Professionals Programme: R1,000 or 50 USD (if paying outside South Africa) Young professionals/ Students (Below 35 years old) R1,500 or 80 USD (if paying outside South Africa)

Payment details Payments are to be made through the account below: Account names: SADC-GMI Bank: ABSA Account number: 4107554267 Branch code: 632005 SWIFT Code: ABSAZAJJ Send the proof of payment to kgomotso@sadc-gmi.org after you have made payment.

Oral and Poster Presentation Guidelines

Keynote and invited talk

1. Keynote and invited speakers are allocated 20 minutes to deliver their presentation, with an additional 10 minutes for a Q&A
2. The presentation file should ideally contain approximately 15-20 PowerPoint slides, based on the allocated presentation time. You are responsible for the content of your presentation. The conference organizers will provide a PowerPoint template to use for the presentations.

Presentation Guideline

1. Presenters are allocated 10 minutes to deliver their presentation and 5 minutes for a Q&A.
2. The presentation file should ideally contain approximately 10-12 PowerPoint slides, based on the allocated time for the presentation. You are responsible for the content of your presentation. A PowerPoint template will be provided.
3. All presenters must submit their presentation file to the session operator on a USB memory stick during registration on the first day of the conference, or at least 30 minutes prior to the session's start time. It is not possible to use your computer for your presentation.
4. Suppose your presentation contains links to video files. You must bring not only your PowerPoint file but also your video files to the operator. All videos linked to PowerPoint slides must be checked to ensure proper functioning.
5. Please note that each presenter is given a maximum of 1 podium presentation per meeting. If a presenter has multiple abstracts deemed acceptable for the conference, the presenter must either (1) decline all but 1 podium presentation or (2) make arrangements for a co-author to present the abstract.