Seven African, Middle Eastern and Asian countries have laid the foundation to becoming international models for water leadership after implementing a 3-year Global Water Leadership in a Changing Climate (GWL) Programme that helped them identify major challenges in water resources and services management as well as develop strategies to resolve them.
The United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR) is UN-Water's flagship report on water and sanitation issues. The 2024 edition, Water for Prosperity and Peace.
In celebration of this year's World Water Day theme "Water for Peace", GWP-Med, Horizon2020 REXUS Communication & Dissemination leader, explains the 3 ‘steps’ that are key to turning water into an opportunity for collaboration rather than conflict, and how REXUS is addressing them.
On the occasion of this year’s World Water Day, devoted to “Water for Peace”, we are presenting the ‘origins story’ of the successful transboundary collaboration for the protection of the Drin river basin, between 5 Riparians in Southeast Europe. This started 25 years ago, out of a shared desire to protect Europe’s oldest lake, Ohrid.
Growing populations and climatic impacts are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources. This is true of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region which comprises 16 Member States, whose population in 2018, was estimated to be at 345.2 million, a rise from 336.9 million as of 2017. Rivers play a pivotal role in the region's socio-economic development, as evidenced by its reliance on these waterways. Southern Africa boasts of 15 major transboundary river basins, shared among neighbouring countries, with 13 basins entirely within the region's borders. However, the equitable distribution of water resources remains a challenge, exacerbated by climatic factors influencing rainfall patterns and the geographical distribution of river basins. While these rivers can spark conflicts, they also serve as conduits for peace and cooperation. Therefore, prioritizing transboundary water cooperation is not merely about economic prosperity but also essential for nurturing stability and harmony throughout the region.
