Abstract. Full text article available at https://online.agris.cz/archive/2016/02/08User-focused design and an implementation of a computer-based Information System (IS) or Information Technology (IT) are considered to play a key role in enhancing adoption, supporting activities and contributing to the sector specific sustainability goals. However, there are general concerns over the practical applications derived from records of failure rates of IS/IT projects in the developing world. This paper aggregates and analyzes stakeholders’ perceived usefulness criteria that were documented from water basin focusing on IS and related projects in Southern Africa. Systematic literature reviews and meta-analysis were adopted for data collection and analyses. Literature with academic, practice and hybrid viewpoints was collected from five water basins in Southern Africa. Designed data collection flow chart guided the search for appropriate literature. Analyses of the data were performed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results of the search were classified and presented basing on the domain, yearly waves from 2000 to 2015, trans-basin nature and basin of focus. Literature was distributed across the classes at different magnitudes. The study has found out that relevance criteria as measure of usefulness have been incorporated in designing and implementing the IS/IT projects in the river basins. However, incorporation of relevance criteria was periodically increasing with technological advancement and increasing complexity of managing the water basins. In general, it was responsive to increasing challenges of water resources in the developing countries. This anticipated better results at the levels of output, outcome and impacts of IS/IT projects in the Southern Africa. The study concludes that the current trends of incorporation of the relevance criteria in designing and implementing the IS/IT projects on water resources are potential for impact-based interventions in Southern Africa.