As we are implementing projects, working on and advocating for reforms and institutional arrangements in the WASH sector, the secretariat wishes to share and/or remind you some of the guiding principles as stipulated in the National Water Policy-2005.
- Water resources management shall be based on the concept of decentralization and local participation so that the unit of water resources management shall be the catchment
- All water resources programmes shall adopt Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principles
- Water regulation shall be based on reliable continuous data collection, management, and analysis to ensure accurate assessment of water resources and dissemination of information for effective planning of water resources development
- The protection and use of water resources for domestic water supply shall be accorded the highest priority over other uses
- A water legal framework shall be created to guide implementation of the water policy
- Water shall be treated not only as a social good but also as an economic good
- All water facilities shall be registered using a numbering system developed and adopted by the Ministry responsible for Water Affairs. The information shall be digitised;
- Water planning shall incorporate disaster preparedness and management to cope with climate change and climate variability to minimise the impact of such changes on the socio-economic status of the nation
- There shall be no agricultural and infrastructure construction activities below the 477-metre above mean sea level contour line along Lake Malawi and below the 100-year flood water level along rivers, except where written authority from the responsible minister is granted
- All major water projects should undergo Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).