Background The 2021 United Nations (UN) Resolution on Global Drowning Prevention calls for several actions at a national level to develop a coordinated global response to drowning. These actions include, amongst others, appointing a national focal point for drowning prevention, developing a national drowning prevention plan containing a measurable set of targets and integrating such plan into wider national plans, policies, and programmes and existing disaster risk reduction programmes. Importantly, the resolution emphasises the need for urgent multisectoral action to improve water safety.

Objective The aim of this study is to perform a prospective analysis of the current policy environment for drowning prevention in South Africa to identify opportunities for placing drowning prevention on the policy agenda.

Methods This will be achieved by applying the health policy analysis triangle to describe the current context as it relates to drowning prevention in South Africa, and to perform a stakeholder analysis of actors related to drowning prevention in South Africa. A qualitative exploration of stakeholders’ current perceptions and context related to drowning prevention in South Africa will be conducted through semi-structured interviews. The modified Shiffman and Smith (2007) agenda setting framework will be applied to identify opportunities for placing drowning prevention on the South African policy agenda. Results: Data collection is planned to take place between March and June 2024. Findings are therefore not yet available but preliminary results will be available for presentation in September 2024.

Conclusions The findings of this study will advance drowning prevention in South Africa by (i) identifying strategies for placing drowning prevention on the policy agenda, (ii) identifying intersectoral alignment with drowning prevention priority actions, (iii) identifying sectors in which a national focal point for drowning prevention could be effectively positioned, and (iv) providing a framework in which water safety and drowning prevention role players can frame their efforts and motivate for resourcing.