Strengthening Integrated Transboundary Management of the Incomati and Maputo River Basins
June 1, 2026
INMACOM Welcomes the Inaugural Council of Ministers Meeting
June 4, 2026
Background of the project
The Catuane Groundwater Project is a complementary solution for the communities affected by the Usuthu River Breach. In the rainy season of 2002, the river deviated southwards of the Ndumo Game Reserve before returning to its original alignment via the Bhanzi Pan at the confluence of the Pongola with the Usuthu River and their respective floodplains. The breach had various impacts on the residents of the Mozambican hamlet of Catuane, located immediately north of the breach.
The community had always relied on the river as a water source for their livelihoods, including small-scale irrigation, fishing and drinking for people and their livestock. Following concerns raised by the affected communities, the urgency, and the ineffectiveness of various interventions, the INMACOM Secretariat was engaged. It is now working on a short-term solution, has carried out a comprehensive groundwater assessment, and is building a water supply system for the affected communities in Catuane. The project had a duration of 8 months and is financed by the Southern African Development Community Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI), through the World Bank.
Objective
The objective of this project is to undertake a comprehensive groundwater assessment and to construct a water supply system in Catuane in the Matutuine district of Mozambique.
The project-specific activities are organised into the following phases:
Phase 1: Conduct a comprehensive groundwater assessment in the study area
Phase 2: Undertake a socio-economic and environmental assessment of the area and construct infrastructure for water supply.
Activities to be carried out
Activity 1 – Meeting with SADC-GMI – Procedures & Guidelines
Activity 2 - Appointment of Project Manager (PM), Project Coordinator (PC) and Member’s States Groundwater Task Team.
Activity 3 – Development of Catuane Project Documents
Activity 4 - Catuane Project Phase 1 Tender Evaluation and Approval
Activity 5 - Catuane Project Launch
Activity 6 - Catuane Project Phase 1 Contract Signing
Activity 7 - Catuane Project Groundwater Task Team Site Visits (Stakeholder Engagement, ESMP)
Activity 8 - Catuane Project Comprehensive Groundwater Assessment
Activity 9 – INMACOM Groundwater Task Team Meeting with Consultant for Phase 1 of Catuane Project to Discuss the submitted Report.
Activity 10 - Catuane Project Phase 2 Tender Evaluation
Activity 11 - Catuane Project Phase 2 Contract Signing
Activity 12 - Catuane Project phase 2 Kick-off-Meeting
Activity 13 – INMACOM Groundwater Task Team Site Visits
Activity 14 – No Cost Extension For Catuane Project
Activity 15 – Request for Release of Advanced Funds for Mobilisation and Borehole Drilling
Activity 16 – Request for Release of Funds for Supervision of Borehole drilling and construction of water supply system.
Activity 17 – Supervision of the Drilling Phase
Activity 19 – Institutional handover
Preliminary considerations
Ultimately, the evidence presented in the comprehensive groundwater study underscores that a thoughtful, comprehensive approach is essential to the project’s success, ensuring that all key arguments are not merely summarized but synthesized to demonstrate their collective significance. Therefore, addressing the identified limitations while building on these findings will enable stakeholders to move beyond theoretical understanding and implement effective, evidence-based solutions for the project. The final takeaway is that consistent, strategic action, rather than isolated efforts, will yield the most impactful results, reinforcing the importance of the analysis conducted by the Technical Task Team.
