Strengthening Partnerships Through Data and Dialogue: GIZ NatuReS Participates in Flow Tracker Phase 2 Field Visit in the uMhlathuze Catchment
As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen water stewardship in the uMhlathuze Catchment, the GIZ NatuReS team recently participated in a stakeholder field visit.
As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen water stewardship in the uMhlathuze Catchment, the GIZ NatuReS team recently participated in a stakeholder field visit. The visit aimed to highlight progress achieved by the uMhlathuze Water Stewardship Partnership (UWASP), demonstrate successful interventions on the ground, and identify areas for further collaboration. It also marked a key milestone in the implementation of Phase 2 of the Flow Tracker Monitoring Tools Project. The field visit was led by the Association for Water and Rural Development (AWARD), with support from WWF-SA and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).
The Flow Tracker is an open-source tool developed by AWARD to monitor river flows and dam levels in near real time. It is accessible via a mobile app and public dashboard (https://uwasp.award.org.za) and supports evidence-based water resource management. Phase 1 (2022–2023) was co-funded by GIZ’s NatuReS Programme. Phase 2, funded and commissioned by Mondi and WWF-SA and implemented by AWARD, aims to expand coverage to include coastal lakes, enhance real-time capabilities, strengthen stakeholder engagement, improve data transparency and refine demand modelling for better drought preparedness and planning.
Who Attended
The field visit brought together key stakeholders including AWARD, DWS officials overseeing the installation of monitoring devices, WWF-SA, uMngeni-uThukela Water, and the City of uMhlathuze Municipal officials responsible for water and wastewater services, as well as GIZ, which participated as a technical partner and funder of Phase 1 of the Flow Tracker project. For GIZ South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, the field trip provided a critical opportunity to see the catchment firsthand, engage with partners on the ground and better understand the challenges and opportunities in the area and reaffirm its support to strengthen UWASP, which was established to bring together diverse stakeholders to co-manage water resources in the catchment. However, momentum was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and efforts are now underway to restore the platform’s functionality and impact.
Field Visit Highlights
During the visit, stakeholders observed the installation and functioning of Flow Tracker devices at multiple sites, engaged in technical discussions on how real-time data can inform day-to-day water management and reflected on the importance of local ownership, the sustainability of the partnership and the relevance of integrating municipal perspectives and expertise. The field trip therefore concluded with a productive meeting with the Water and Wastewater unit as well as the Environmental and Spatial Planning unit – key departments within the municipality responsible for water services and natural resources.
Importantly, AWARD, DWS and WWF-SA demonstrated strong leadership throughout the process. Witnessing stakeholders lead the discussions and site visits reinforced a key principle of NatuReS’ approach - to provide technical assistance where needed, but ultimately facilitate and support the establishment of sustainable, self-sufficient multi-stakeholder stewardship partnerships. This field visit not only strengthened collaboration among partners but also reaffirmed UWASP’s role as a catalytic platform driving long-term resilience, sustainable resource management, and inclusive growth in the uMhlathuze catchment.
About NatuReS
The Natural Resources Stewardship Programme (NatuReS) fosters collaboration between the private sector, public institutions and civil society to sustainably use and manage natural resources.
NatuReS is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – a trusted partner in advancing natural resources stewardship worldwide. The programme is currently active in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa.
