The Zambezi River Basin : A Multi-Sector Investment Opportunities Analysis - State of the Basin

The Zambezi River Basin (ZRB) is one of
the most diverse and valuable natural resources in Africa.
Its waters are critical to sustainable economic growth and
poverty reduction in the region. The overall objective of
the Zambezi River Multi-Sector Investment
Opportunity Analysis (MSIOA) is to illustrate the benefits
of cooperation among the riparian countries in the ZRB
through a multi-sectoral economic evaluation of water
resources development, management options and scenarios from
both national and basin-wide perspectives. Better management
and cooperative development of the Basin's water
resources could significantly increase agricultural yields,
hydropower outputs, and economic opportunities.
Collaboration has the potential to increase the efficiency
of water use, strengthen environmental sustainability,
improve regulation of the demands made on natural resources,
and enable greater mitigation of the impact of droughts and
floods. Seen in this light, cooperative river basin
development and management not only provide a mechanism for
increasing the productivity and sustainability of the river
system, but also provide a potential platform for
accelerated regional economic growth, cooperation, and
stability within the wider Southern Africa Development
Community (SADC).