uThukela Water Fund Upscaling

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uThukela Water Fund Upscaling

Investing in Nature for Water Security

The upper uThukela catchment is one of South Africa’s most strategic water-producing landscapes, supplying water to communities, agriculture, industry, and major national infrastructure. Maintaining healthy ecosystems in this landscape is essential for long-term water security.

Through ReLISA, partners are supporting the expansion and operationalisation of the uThukela Water Fund — an innovative financing mechanism that channels investment into nature-based solutions that improve catchment health while delivering measurable water security benefits.

Scaling a Proven Approach

The project is assessing opportunities to expand the existing Water Fund model into areas associated with the proposed Northern Drakensberg Biosphere Reserve. This includes strengthening governance structures, establishing operational frameworks, and developing implementation plans that support long-term investment in landscape restoration.

Nature-Based Solutions in Action

The Water Fund approach focuses on interventions that address the root causes of catchment degradation, including invasive alien plant infestations, unsustainable grazing practices, and erosion. By restoring ecosystem function, these interventions can improve water regulation, enhance ecosystem resilience, and reduce risks to downstream water users.

Building Long-Term Partnerships

A key objective of the initiative is to strengthen collaboration between communities, conservation organisations, government agencies, water users, and private-sector partners. Through shared investment and coordinated action, the Water Fund aims to create a sustainable model for landscape restoration that can be replicated in other Strategic Water Source Areas across South Africa.

Beyond on-the-ground restoration, the project will generate knowledge, monitoring data, and lessons that contribute to broader efforts to scale nature-based solutions and water stewardship approaches nationally.

Our partners: UNESCO, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), WILDTRUST, government water and environmental authorities, traditional authorities, local communities, water users, and ReLISA partners.