Mandate

The Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM), is a river basin organisation established through the OKACOM Agreement of 1994, by three riparian states of Angola, Botswana and Namibia to jointly manage water resources in the Cubango-Okavango River, a basin the countries jointly share.

OKACOM activities in the basin supports the livelihoods of people, and flora and fauna. Its work also offer potential to contribute to economic development of the three riparian states. Through its Secretariat, OKACOM promote integrated transboundary management of the Cubango-Okavango River Basin (CORB).

OKACOM Functions (Article 4 of the 1994 Founding Agreement). OKACOM was established by the contracting partiers to advise the Member States on:

• The long term safe yield of water available from the basin;
• Reasonable demand scenarios from all consumers in the basin;
• Conservation, equitable allocation sustainable utilisation of water resources of the basin;
• Planning, separately and jointly, for development of water resources, including the construction, operation and maintenance water infrastructure in the basin;
• Prevention of pollution, prevention and control of aquatic weeds in the basin and;
• Measures for the alleviation of short-term difficulties, such as droughts and floods.

OKACOM provides technical advice to member states and basin stakeholders so they are able to deliver equitable, and sustainable development and growth on matters relating to the conservation, development and utilisation of water resources in the CORB. The secretariat also provides a forum for the commissioners to communicate, network, share concerns and prepare advice and recommendations to address transboundary CORB overarching issues.