The Joint Songwe River Basin Commission (SONGWECOM) is a permanent bilateral institution jointly established by the Governments of the Republic of Malawi and the United Republic of Tanzania through the Convention on the Establishment of a Joint Songwe River Basin Commission, signed on 18 May 2017 and entered into force on 1 July 2018. The Commission was established to provide a comprehensive institutional framework for the sustainable development, utilization, conservation and management of the water resources and related natural resources of the Songwe River Basin for the benefit of present and future generations in both Member States. The Convention further establishes the Commission as a fully autonomous body possessing legal personality in the territories of both Parties, enabling it to own assets, mobilise resources, enter into agreements and undertake actions necessary for the implementation of its mandate.

The establishment of SONGWECOM represents the culmination of more than four decades of bilateral cooperation between Malawi and Tanzania aimed at addressing the recurrent challenges of flooding, river course instability, land degradation and sustainable utilisation of the shared resources of the Songwe River Basin. The history of cooperation dates back to the 1970s when the Governments of the two countries initiated joint efforts to address the changing course of the Songwe River, which forms approximately 200 kilometres of the international boundary between the two countries. These efforts evolved through successive phases of feasibility studies, detailed design and investment preparation, ultimately resulting in the development of the Songwe River Basin Development Programme (SRBDP) as a long-term framework for coordinated and sustainable development of the Basin.

The Songwe River Basin covers approximately 4,243 square kilometres across seven districts, namely Karonga and Chitipa in Malawi and Kyela, Mbeya Rural, Ileje, Mbozi and Momba in Tanzania. The Basin forms part of the wider Zambezi River system and supports the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people through agriculture, fisheries, livestock, water supply and other economic activities. However, increasing pressure on water, land and natural resources, combined with climate change impacts, environmental degradation and flood risks, necessitated the establishment of a permanent transboundary institution to coordinate sustainable management and development of the Basin.

Pursuant to Article 3 of the Convention, SONGWECOM is mandated to advise the Governments of Malawi and Tanzania on matters relating to the sustainable management, conservation, development and utilisation of the water resources of the Basin; identify areas of cooperation in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM); strengthen linkages between basin development initiatives and national development programmes; and coordinate implementation of the Songwe River Basin Development Programme as the principal framework for transboundary development and investment. The Commission is also responsible for managing infrastructure and assets developed under the Programme, including dams, hydropower plants, irrigation systems, flood management facilities and social infrastructure established within the Basin.

Article 5 of the Convention further empowers the Commission to facilitate cooperation between the Parties, collect and analyse information, formulate recommendations on matters of common interest, establish technical committees and task forces, engage consultants and experts, mobilise financial and technical resources, and adopt rules and procedures necessary for effective implementation of the Convention. Through these powers, SONGWECOM serves as the principal platform for bilateral cooperation on transboundary water resources management, climate resilience, environmental protection, infrastructure development, renewable energy generation and socio-economic transformation within the Songwe River Basin.

The Commission executes its mandate through three permanent organs established under Article 4 of the Convention, namely the Council of Ministers (CoM), the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) and the Secretariat. The Secretariat, headquartered in Kyela, United Republic of Tanzania, serves as the operational arm of the Commission and is responsible for implementing decisions of the Council and Joint Steering Committee, preparing annual work plans and budgets, coordinating programmes and projects, managing information systems, mobilising resources and overseeing the operation and maintenance of infrastructure developed under the SRBDP.

In accordance with Article 10 of the Convention, SONGWECOM assumes ownership and management responsibility for infrastructure and assets developed under the Songwe River Basin Development Programme on behalf of the Governments of Malawi and Tanzania. The Commission is therefore entrusted with managing the rights, obligations, revenues, operation and maintenance of such assets while ensuring equitable sharing of benefits between the two Member States. This unique mandate positions SONGWECOM not only as a transboundary river basin organisation, but also as a strategic regional development institution responsible for promoting climate-resilient infrastructure, renewable energy, water security, disaster risk reduction, environmental sustainability and socio-economic development within the Songwe River Basin.

Today, SONGWECOM serves as the primary vehicle through which Malawi and Tanzania jointly pursue their shared vision of transforming the Songwe River Basin into a region of sustainable economic growth, climate resilience, environmental integrity and improved livelihoods, while contributing to regional integration, poverty reduction and achievement of national, regional and global development goals.