Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission (INMACOM) has secured a major ecosystem preservation grant amounting to more than E1.12 billion from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), marking a significant milestone in transboundary water and environmental management in Southern Africa.
The funding was disclosed by INMACOM Executive Secretary Sindy Mthimkhulu during a stakeholder and project teams meeting held at the Royal Villas in Ezulwini on Tuesday, 11 February 2026. The meeting brought together key partners and stakeholders, including the Association for Water and Rural Development (AWARD).
Mthimkhulu explained that the grant is aimed at strengthening ecosystem preservation and enhancing the sustainable operation of the Incomati and Maputo River Basins, which are jointly managed by Eswatini, Mozambique and South Africa.
“We secured this funding from the Global Environment Facility through a specific allocation known as Transboundary Waters,” she said. “This came after we formally applied as INMACOM, representing Eswatini, Mozambique and South Africa, in partnership with the Global Water Partnership.”
She noted that the purpose of the meeting was to collectively strategise on water resource management issues affecting the three countries, with a particular focus on environmental sustainability.
“The objective is to address ecosystem components within our water resources management framework,” Mthimkhulu said. “We also want to engage people working within the river basins to better understand what they are doing to preserve nature and maintain clean water systems.”
According to Mthimkhulu, the engagement also sought to assess existing programmes being implemented in Mozambique and by organisations such as AWARD, particularly those related to ecosystem initiatives. Other participants included the Water Management Institute, representatives of member states, government officials and development partners.
She said the discussions aligned closely with INMACOM’s broader GEF-funded project, which focuses on improving integrated water management systems.
“There is a major component within this project that incorporates environmental management and water quality management,” she explained. “We are looking at how different programmes and interventions can complement each other to strengthen sustainable water governance across borders.”
Mthimkhulu further highlighted that the meeting explored opportunities within legal and policy frameworks, including legislation under review in Eswatini, aimed at conserving water resources and ensuring water quality. Participants also interrogated environmental challenges such as soil erosion and deforestation, examining how these factors negatively impact water systems and how they can be mitigated.
Meanwhile, the meeting was largely enabled by the BIO-SMART2 project (Biodiversity Systems Management and Analytics for the Restoration of Transboundary Rivers), which is funded by the JRS Biodiversity Foundation. The project is led by AWARD in partnership with WWF Mozambique, the Freshwater Research Centre (FRC), Charles Sturt University and Rivers of Life.
The gathering also received support from the UNDP/GEF-8 INMACOM project, titled “Strengthening Integrated Transboundary Management of the Incomati and Maputo River Basins”.
The BIO-SMART2 project focuses on strengthening transboundary collaboration and management of aquatic biodiversity within the Incomati River Basin. One of its flagship initiatives is the establishment of the Transboundary Biodiversity Learning Network (TBLN), which was officially launched in Macaneta, Mozambique, in June 2025.
The vision of the TBLN is to serve as a dynamic platform for both in-person and virtual engagement, facilitating knowledge sharing, skills development and collaboration among decision-makers and technical experts from Eswatini, Mozambique and South Africa.
Through this substantial GEF grant and strengthened regional partnerships, INMACOM is poised to significantly enhance ecosystem protection, improve water quality management and promote sustainable utilisation of shared water resources across the three member states.
