The SIMDAS report has been produced following the adoption of the SIMDAS project by the 32nd UNESCO General Conference as a UNESCO regional flagship programme of the joint International Hydrological programme (IHP) and the Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme, letter of 5 April 2004 sent by the UNESCO DG to the Minister of Education of Botswana and several consultations held by Professor J. Shabani, Director Harare Cluster Office and UNESCO Representative to the SADC Secretariat with the Botswana National Commission for UNESCO, the University of Botswana, the UNESCO National Commissions in the SADC Region, UNESCO Offices in the SADC region and the Natural Science sector at headquarters. In summary, it covers the folllowing:

Management Structures - Project Co-ordination and National SIMDAS Committees
The overall coordination of the project has been entrusted to the Harare Cluster Office but the implementation of the project activities will be undertaken in collaboration with the national and cluster offices in the SADC Region, the UNESCO Regional Office for sciences and the Technology in Africa (ROSTA), the UNESCO-IHE Institute for water education, the natural science sector at the Headquarters and UNESCO Chairs operating in the areas of competence of SIMDAS .

Selection of the First Group of SIMDAS Students
In May 2004 the University of Botswana convened in Maun a SADC kick-off regional experts meeting to identify research sub-themes to be addressed within the approved Headstream project.

Following the above meeting, the University of Botswana developed an advert and an information note which were used to launch a call for applications from students from universities and research centres in the SADC member states. The note provided information on the requirements and application procedure. It also indicated that priority was to be given to women and junior lecturer/researchers.

Experts Consultation on Biosphere Reserves and SIMDAS held in Harare, Zimbabwe, 7 – 8 September, 2004
The Consultation on Biosphere Reserves and SIMDAS held in Harare, Zimbabwe from 7 – 8 September 2005 centered on the linkage of the ecology aspect to the SIMDAS project in the context of the budget that had been set aside in 2004/5 for activities on Ecology.

The original objectives of the consultation were to identify key questions for ecological research in SIMDAS and possible links to SIMDAS research in other fields; review a list of possible Biosphere Reserve sites to be used to stimulate discussion with Member States and review and agree on Terms of Reference for consultant missions to SADC Member States on Biosphere Reserves and SIMDAS.

First Meeting of the SIMDAS Flagship Programme Steering Committee Gaborone, 7-9 June 2005
Botswana and UNESCO hosted the first meeting of the Sustainable Integrated Management of Arid and Semi-Arid Region of southern Africa (SIMDAS) Flagship Steering Committee from 7 to 9 June 2005 at the Gaborone Sun Hotel in Gaborone, Botswana.

The Steering Committee begun by electing the bureau of the Steering Committee during Session I and it is here that the Committee unanimously selected the host country, Botswana as the Chairperson. Dr. James King is therefore the current chairperson of the SIMDAS steering committee.