PROGRAMMES

Key development systems

The EDP works to achieve a better quality of life for all through sustainable development. Our team enhances the capabilities of civil society and government to engage in collaborative and adaptive governance within specific key development systems. These key systems -reflected in the EDP’s programmes - abound in opportunities to partner and have a high payoff of collaboration.

Energy & Climate

Partnering for energy security, sustainability and equity

Water Resilience

Building water resilience to strengthen water security

Infrastructure & Mobility

Collaboration for inclusive infrastructure delivery

Local Economic Development

Partnering for inclusive economic growth and employment

Safety

Enhancing safety boosts economic growth and promotes community well-being.

EDP PROGRAMMES

Water Resilience

Building water resilience to strengthen water security

Resilient water systems are crucial for sustainable livelihoods and economic growth. Climate change, environmental factors and population growth are all placing demands on South Africa’s scarce water resources and institutional challenges prevent effective coordination and undermine infrastructure maintenance. The EDP strengthens relationships among water users and custodians to improve water governance for water resilience.

Projects in this programme:
Building resilience of the Western Cape Water Supply System

The Western Cape Water Supply System provides water to four million people across sectors and areas. Relationships are critical for effective decision making and management of this system so the EDP supports the City of Cape Town to convene strategic engagements with water users and water authorities. The purpose of these engagements is to galvanise joint action that creates a resilient water system for the province. 

Connecting Water, Energy and Food to increase resilience

Demand for water, energy, and food (WEF) is increasing globally, driven by demographic and economic growth, changing user practises and rapid urbanisation. As a project partner on the four-year WEF-Nexus project, the EDP promotes collaboration and learning exchange between researchers, practitioners and policy-makers working in the WEF sector. This project aims to build synergies between Cape Town’s WEF sectors while ensuring environmental preservation.  

Catchment Management Forum for enhancing water resource management

Catchment Management Forums (CMFs) are recognised as a vital tool for improving water resource management and building resilience to water shocks. By fostering partnerships between the city and civil society, these forums play a crucial role in sustainable water management. This project aims to design, facilitate, and enable inclusive collaboration in establishing and maintaining a CMF in the Zeekoe catchment areas, and developing guidelines to ensure the effective creation and operation of CMFs throughout the City of Cape Town.

The WEF project team meeting at a kickoff meeting in 2023. Credit: World Bank 

The members of the Zeekoe Catchment Management Forum on the day the co-chairs were nominated. Credit: Bruce Sutherland. 

Participants at a workshop to collectively update the Catchment Management Forum (CMF) guidelines used to facilitate the effective operations of CMFs. Credit: EDP.