The Okavango River basin is shared between Angola, Botswana and Namibia. As well as the water resources, people living in the basin derive numerous natural resources from the basin ecosystem. Lying in the middle of a predominantly semi-arid region, the Okavango provides opportunities for water abstractions for numerous uses. The three basin states, sharing a concern for the basin environment, decided to strive to manage developments in the basin in a sustainable manner. In this regard, the three states agreed to establish the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM). This agreement was formally signed on 15 September 1994.