THE WATER RESEARCH COMMISSION

1
THE WATER RESEARCH COMMISSION

• ROLE AND FUNCTIONS
• George Green, Deputy CEO

2
WHAT IS THE WRC ?

• An organisation which exists to serve the SA
  water sector. In this regard, we
• Fund water-related research and development
• Provide direction and leadership for RD
• Actively promote application and dissemination of
  water-centred knowledge
• Develop capacity, maintain, renew, and transform
  the water sectors knowledge base
• Commitment to sounder, more effective water
  resource management and utilisation at all levels

3

• -The WRC receives its mandate from the Water
  Research Act of 1971, which created the Water
  Research Fund
• -This Act is a member of the water legislation
  family (together with Water Services Act of 1977,
  NWA of 1998) recognised in White Paper on
  National Water Policy of 1997 as single most
  important assurance that necessary research will
  be carried out and human resources trained.
• - Direct funding of research R65.5m in 02/03 (73
  of total expenditure of R90m)

4
Water-sector needs we meet

• Overcoming problems (actual and potential)
  related to
• Scarcity, variability of SAs water resources
• Inequities and non-sustainable development of the
  past
• Increasing demands on water resources for social
  and economic development
• Resource deterioration
• A national focal point for water-centred RD
• Networking and communication among diverse
  stakeholders and role-players in water sector
• An independent, objective knowledge broker
• Continuous provision (and/or renewal) of
  capacity and skills

5
Goals and objectives of the WRC and Our
commitment to being highly effective and relevant
in serving the government, the water sector and
the people of South Africa expressed in
our Mission Vision Values
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Mission

• The WRC is a dynamic hub for water-centred
  knowledge, innovation and intellectual capital.
• -We provide leadership for research and
  development through the support of knowledge
  creation, transfer and application.
• -We engage stakeholders and partners in solving
  water-related problems, which are
• -critical to South Africas sustainable
  development and economic growth, and are
  committed to promoting a better quality of life
  for all

7
Vision

• To be a globally recognised leader in providing
  innovative solutions for sustainable water
  management to meet the changing needs of society
  and of the environment

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Core Values

• Service orientation
• Care for people, society and the environment
• Fairness to all
• Dedication to quality
• Integrity and ethical behaviour
• Respect for human and individual rights
• Innovation and learning

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How is our business structured and supported?

• Key Strategic Areas (KSAs)
• Main business units invest in RD and lead (ie
  initiate, fund, manage) the creation, application
  and dissemination of knowledge, through research
  portfolios (thrusts, programmes, projects) which
  serve the objectives of the particular KSA.
• Crosscutting Domains (XDs)
• Key integration units draw together relevant
  KSA-funded/managed research projects into RD
  portfolios which serve the objectives of the
  particular domain. Advocate relevant KSA
  projects, initiate overarching projects.
• Corporate Strategic Drives
• Initiatives of particular significance to the
  WRCs long-term effectiveness and viability,
  which need to be strategically developed,
  coordinated and managed across KSAs and the
  organisation as a whole.

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WRC Corporate Strategic Drives

• Capacity development
• Business development (diversification of income)
• Innovation/commercialisation/intellectual
  property
• International/Africa relations
• Impact assesment
• Public relations/communications/marketing
• Strategic drives at corporate level, provide
  focus and leadership for similar drives at KSA
  level

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Key Strategic Areas

• Water resource-related
• KSA 1 Water Resource Management
• KSA 2 Water-linked Eco-systems
• Water use-related
• KSA 3 Water Use and Waste Management
• KSA 4 Water Utilisation in Agriculture
• Knowledge-related
• KSA 5 Water-centred Knowledge

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KSA 1 Water Resource Management
This KSA aims to generate the knowledge, tools
and skills to ensure that water resources of
South Africa are protected, utilised, developed,
conserved and managed to achieve environmental,
social and economic sustainability. Thrusts 1
Water Resource Assessment 2 Integrated Water
Resource Development 3 Management of Natural and
Human-Induced Impacts 4 Policy Development and
Institutional Arrangements for Water Resource
Management
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KSA 2 Water-linked Ecosystems

• Thrusts
• 1 Ecosystem Processes
• 2 Ecosystem Management and Utilisation
• 3 Ecosystem Rehabilitation

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KSA 3 Water Use/Waste Management

• Thrusts
• 1 Water and Sanitation Services Institutional
  and Management Issues
• 2 Water Supply and Treatment Technology
• 3 Wastewater and Effluent Treatment and Reuse
  Technology
• 4 Industrial and Mine-Water Management

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KSA 4 Water Utilisation in Agriculture

• Thrusts
• 1 Water Utilisation for Food and Fibre
  Production
• 2 Water Utilisation for Fuelwood and Timber
  Production
• 3 Water Utilisation for Poverty Reduction and
  Wealth Creation in Agriculture
• 4 Water Resource Protection and Reclamation in
  Agriculture

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KSA 5 Water-Centred Knowledge

• Thrusts
• 1 Strategic Research Advice
• 2 Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• 3 Research Information and Document Management
• 4 Publishing and Publications Centre
• 5 Water-Centred Media and Activities

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Crosscutting Domains

• Part of the WRCs mission commits water research
  to supporting sustainable development and quality
  of life
• Desirable outcomes of such research are
• -A society which benefits equitably from water
  resource development hence we have a domain
  Water and Society
• -A vibrant economy hence Water and the Economy
• -A healthy environment hence Water and the
  Environment
• -Personal health hence Water and Health
• A particular domain provides for an integrated
  view of research investments and outcomes across
  the KSAs, as they relate to the domains focus
  area.

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Water and Society Portfolio of Thrusts
Water as a shared resource investigates
hydropolitical (intersectoral, transboundary)
issues in SA and the region, thereby reducing
potential for conflict, and promoting integrated,
sustainable management Societys water
services-related needs investigates issues of
sustainable service provision, such as payment
for water, ownership of potable water schemes,
hygiene and sanitation Gender and other
limitations to water access investigates the
extent of such limitations and their
consequences, leading to policy formulation and
corrective measures Poverty alleviation
investigates the linkages between water and
poverty, the roles of water in breaking the
poverty cycle and promoting food security
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Water and the Economy Portfolio of Thrusts

• The value of water to different sectors of the
  economy
• The economic benefits (and/or costs) associated
  with water resource development
• The use of economic instruments (eg charges on
  waste discharges, sliding-scale tariffs) to
  effect behavioural change (eg reduction in
  pollution)
• The use of economic instruments (eg water
  markets, cross subsidisation) as drivers for
  equitable and efficient water allocation,
  distribution and utilisation

20
Water and the Environment Portfolio of Thrusts

• Environmental functioning within the hydrological
  cycle
• Environmental governance systems
• Integrative activities

21
Water and Health Portfolio of Thrusts

• Microbiological quality of water and associated
  diseases
• Chemical quality of water and associated diseases
• Safeguarding public health

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To recap .

• Who we are and what needs we are fulfilling
• How our goals and functions are guided by our
  mission, vision and values
• How our business is structured, into KSAs,
  Crosscutting Domains and Strategic Drives
• Will further elaborate on one of the strategic
  drives, namely, Capacity Development