Rules and Procedures for Sharing of Data Related to the Management and Development of the Zambezi Watercourse.

The overall objective of these Rules and Procedures is to give effect to the provisions on data sharing in the ZAMCOM Agreement and the SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourses in order “to ensure that relevant and quality assured data and information are shared timely between the Member States in order to facilitate that the Member States - through ZAMCOM - will be able to take informed decisions in relation to the planning and management of the shared water resources in the Zambezi watercourse. These Rules and Procedures shall apply to the sharing of data and information relevant to the equitable and reasonable utilisation, management and sustainable development of the Zambezi Watercourse. These Rules and Procedures shall not apply to information exchange in emergency situations as defined in Article 17 of the ZAMCOM-Agreement. The Member States agree to share all data and information relevant for the planning, management and sustainable development of the Zambezi Watercourse, including but not limited to the following data and information categories: a) Hydrology b) Meteorology c) Water quality d) Socio-economy e) Environment f) Planning instruments (e.g. policies, legal instruments, strategies, master plans, etc.). The Rules and Procedures consist of two parts; Part I contains Rules for Sharing Data and Information, which sets out the agreed rules for data sharing, cost sharing, roles of institutions, whereas Part II contains Technical Procedures and Specifications, specifying the data to be shared, technical standards and procedures of data and information exchange.
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