Institutional arrangements for climate change governance in SADC countries: The case of South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Abstract

This study sought to analyse and interrogate institutional arrangements for climate change governance in the SADC region with South Africa and Zimbabwe as cases. The researcher engaged 10 key informants; 8 in Zimbabwe and 2 in South Africa as well as 3 in-depth discussions in each of South Africa and Zimbabwe. The researcher used semi-structured interviews for key informants and an interview guide for in-depth discussions. Secondary document review was also done to obtain information which is privy to the research. This was through review of government reports as well as policy and strategy documents. Thematic analysis was used to analyse research results and the researcher used the multi-level governance framework as the conceptual framework. The study found out that both South Africa and Zimbabwe have multi-level climate change governance institutions with South Africa having a three-tier system and Zimbabwe a four-tier system. In addition to that, it was found out that climate change governance institutions in South Africa and Zimbabwe are poorly coordinated horizontally and vertically. The study also found out that for effective governance of climate change, the institutional architecture must not only be well coordinated, but capacitated as in terms of human and material resources. The study recommends the alignment and harmonization of policies and organizations to enhance efficiency and the synchronization of traditional and modern governance systems. Further research has to be done at the same magnitude in other countries to complete the characterization of climate change governance in SADC countries.