The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) focuses on sustainable development and preserving natural ecosystems for future generations. With the Umgeni catchment dams and soil holding significant amounts of water, preserving these ecosystems is crucial for water security.
Mookho Mathaba, Climate Finance Specialist at DBSA (60 Sec)
As a Climate Finance Specialist, Mookho Mathaba knows that traditional financing often overlooked sustainable development, but the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is changing this approach. They aim to build Africa’s prosperity and promote the Just Transition by incorporating gender, environmental, and social aspects into infrastructure projects, creating a sustainable, low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive society.
Protecting nature’s beauty and benefits is crucial for both the present and future generations. The DBSA’s work embodies hope for a more sustainable future as individuals strive to make a difference in their communities and the world. By embracing a comprehensive approach to sustainability, the DBSA leads the way in creating lasting, positive change for Africa and beyond.
Nomandla Nqanula, Enviro-Champ of the Palmiet River Project (60 Sec)
Ecological infrastructure directly benefits communities, and vulnerable groups are most affected when the environment is unhealthy. The DBSA’s Enviro-Champ program addresses this issue by employing people from informal settlements to become environmental stewards. Participants undergo a series of training exercises to better understand the natural environment and its importance.
Enviro-Champs like Nomandla Nqanula, carry out tasks like illegal dam cleaning, door-to-door education on environmental cleanliness, and emphasizing the scarcity of fresh water. They also monitor water leaks and sewer leakages and engage in biomonitoring. Through their involvement, these individuals transform into environmentally friendly ambassadors, actively contributing to the protection and preservation of their communities’ resources.
Pearl Gola, Ecological Infrastructure Co-ordinator at SANBI (60 Sec)
Pearl Gola, the Ecological Infrastructure Coordinator at SANBI, is part of the Umgeni Ecological Infrastructure Partnership. The Partnership, initiated by the DBSA and SANBI, aims to protect the Umgeni catchment from source to sea, focusing on integrated socio-ecological systems. In Mpopomeni, a vast wetland lies between the sewage treatment works and the dam. When the wastewater treatment plant failed, the wetland became degraded, impacting its ability to supplement the treatment process.
To address this issue, the partnership not only focused on rehabilitating the wastewater treatment works but also on restoring the wetland. This approach improved biodiversity and restored the wetland’s functionality. Emphasizing both ecological and social aspects, the partnership engaged with the community to build trust and raise awareness about the importance of the wetland for water security.
Mookho Mathaba, Climate Finance Specialist at DBSA (30 Sec)
Nomandla Nqanula, Enviro-Champ of the Palmiet River Project (30 Sec)
Pearl Gola, Ecological Infrastructure Co-ordinator at SANBI (30 Sec)
Corporate Overview
The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) focuses on sustainable development and preserving natural ecosystems for future generations. With the Umgeni catchment dams and soil holding significant amounts of water, preserving these ecosystems is crucial for water security. DBSA partners with municipalities, government, the private sector, NGOs, and academics to implement infrastructure projects incorporating gender, social, and environmental aspects for sustainable and relevant outcomes.
The Palmiet Ecological Infrastructure Project exemplifies this mission, involving biodiversity management and employment opportunities for people in informal settlements near the catchment. The Enviro-Champ program trains participants to understand the natural environment and the impact of human activities on it.
Industrial pollution, spillages, and waste in rivers strain infrastructure and pollute crucial water sources like the Umgeni catchment and Midmar dam. The Umgeni Ecological Infrastructure Partnership, including SANBI’s Pearl Gola, works to rehabilitate wetlands and wastewater treatment facilities, improving water quality and biodiversity.
When natural infrastructure functions effectively, funding costs decrease. The DBSA aims to protect the environment for future generations while working towards a just transition and water security, ultimately improving lives and livelihoods in local communities.
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