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The UNDP-GEF Project “Supporting Sustainable Inclusive Blue Economy Transformation in African Small Island Developing States (African SIDS), through the African Union Commission and GWPSA, participated in an IW: Learn Twinning Exchange organised as part of the Global Environment Facility International Waters (GEF IW): LEARN 5 initiatives to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing between International Waters projects across regions. The exchange activities took place in Colombia and Belize from 27 October to 4 November 2025.

The Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) participated in the 8th International River and Environment Cooperation (REMCO) Conference, held in Maputo, Mozambique, from 3 to 7 November 2025. Convening more than 150 delegates from Mozambique, Eswatini, South Africa, the Netherlands, and Germany, the conference served as a critical platform for advancing collaborative strategies to strengthen transboundary water governance and climate resilience across the Incomati and Maputo River Basins.

The Global Water Partnership (GWP), represented by Mr. Alex Simalabwi, CEO of the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO) and Executive Secretary of the Global Water Partnership (GWP), played a leading role at the AWSISA Africa & Global South Water & Sanitation Dialogue, held from 9–12 November 2025 at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg.

The Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) continues to inspire large-scale water-investment efforts across the world. Following calls from world leaders, including H.E. Ban Ki-moon, 8th UN Secretary-General, and H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, to replicate Africa’s proven model in other regions, momentum is now building for the USD 20 billion Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Water Investment Programme, set for launch in 2026.

The 11th SADC Multi-Stakeholder Water Dialogue was held in Maseru, Lesotho, from 29 to 30 September 2025, where delegates discussed the role of water in regional economic corridor development, positioning and aligning the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus for impactful contribution to the regional economic development corridor agenda.

The 26th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWPSA Symposium will take place on 29-31 October 2025, hosted in a hybrid format coordinated from Ciela Resort, Lusaka, Zambia. This year’s theme is “Accelerating Implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management in order to Close the Water Investment Gap by 2030 and Beyond in Eastern and Southern Africa”.

The African SIDS Blue Economy Project, a joint initiative supported by the Global Environment Facility, implemented by UNDP, and executed by the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa, under the leadership of the African Union Commission as the focal custodian of the project, was showcased at the Africa Blue Economy Week taking place at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Africa Blue Economy Week took place from 23 to 25 September 2025.

The African Union Commission, in partnership with the Global Water Partnership Africa, is fast-tracking climate finance readiness across the continent through the AU-AIP GCF Readiness Support Initiative, now being implemented in 15 AU Member States. Over recent months, the initiative has recorded tangible milestones that demonstrate growing institutional capacity, stronger investment preparation, and Africa’s readiness to absorb and deploy climate finance at scale.

The African Union Commission has trained representatives of Ministries of Water from African Union (AU) Member States in developing Climate Resilient Water Investment Programmes and Green Climate Fund Projects. The training which preceded the AU-AIP Water Investment Summit, took place from 11 to 12 August 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa.

18 September 2025, Gaborone, Botswana: The Southern African Development Community (SADC), in collaboration with the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho and with the support of the German Government through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), will host the 11th SADC Multi-Stakeholder Water Dialogue in Maseru, Lesotho, from 29 to 30 September 2025.