Resilience in the Limpopo Basin (RESILIM) - The Potential of the Transboundary Ramotswa Aquifer

The overall objective of the project is to support a long-term joined vision and cooperation on the shared groundwater resources of the upper Limpopo region where the states potentially share significant and valuable freshwater underground resources as well as space for enhanced water storage. The project will facilitate joint management and better groundwater governance focused on coordination, scientific knowledge, social redress and environmental sustainability, in order to reduce poverty and inequities and to increase prosperity, livelihoods and food security in face of climate chance and variability.

Specific objectives: 

• Increase the recognition of the importance and vulnerability of the transboundary Ramotswa aquifer 
• Improve the understanding of the socioeconomic importance of the aquifer area and the inequalities in water security across the population 
• Improve the knowledge of the extent of the transboundary aquifer resources and the hydrogeology under present and future climate and population projections
• Assess the feasibility and best options for managed aquifer recharge (MAR) for securing the water buffer and controlling the water quality, using wastewater, floodwater and storm water 
• Assess the feasibility and best options for small-scale irrigation (agwater solutions) 
• Establish national and cross-border dialogue and cooperation on the Ramotswa and further encourage international cooperation on transboundary aquifers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region 
• Develop tools for shared and harmonized management and monitoring of the groundwater resources 
• Develop human and institutional capacity for shared and harmonized management and monitoring of the groundwater resources;