GWP celebrates 25 years in 2021, and we are introducing the anniversary website gwp25years.org. The launch took place in connection to the GWP Regional Days (31 May-3 June), an annual gathering of GWP’s staff worldwide. The new website is a place to capture the collective celebration of what the network has achieved so far, and to look to the future. It is a place where everyone is invited to share messages and where they can be part of the journey to make good water governance a reality for everyone.

GWP set ambitious goals for 2020, the year it launched its new strategy, which were met by unexpected challenges due to the global pandemic. Nonetheless, the GWP network adjusted rapidly to the new situation, and substantial results were achieved.

Global leaders recently convened for the twelfth Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD XII) with the aim of furthering multilateral cooperation around climate action in the lead up to COP26 in Glasgow. This year’s PCD included a series of virtual satellite events to complement the ministerial discussions.

On 18 May, the event series “Transboundary freshwater security governance train” continued with a session on “International Water Law and Infrastructure.” Over 100 participants took part in the event, which was co-organised by GWP and the International Water Law Academy (IWLA) of Wuhan University. The question at the heart of the discussion was: what are the rules of international law that govern transboundary infrastructure development?

On 27 April, GWP organised a learning exchange on the topic, “IWRM Action Planning to Accelerate Progress on SDG 6”. The event had over 150 participants who shared their experiences on how to accelerate Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) to contribute to the achievement of the water-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

GWP El Salvador, the National Development Foundation (FUNDE), the Interinstitutional Network for Territorial Development, Let’s Do It El Salvador and 22 civil society organisations have formed the Trinational Network for the Rescue of the Lempa River. #RescatemosElLempa is a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of one of the main rivers in Central America.

The GWP Steering Committee members appointed Ms. Jamilla Sealy as Vice-Chair of the committee with immediate effect. Sealy, who joined the committee in December 2020, also holds the first-ever permanent youth seat.

In our series of inter-regional discussions on gender equality and social inclusion, GWP Senior Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist Liza Debevec is exploring the ‘Action Areas’ of the GWP Gender Action Piece, to identify what GWP as an institution can do to apply them. In the fourth and final discussion, she talked to Hycinth Banseka and Julienne Roux about the issue of equal access to and control of resources. Banseka, who is Regional Coordinator for GWP Central Africa, says it is a complex issue in Africa, where the cultural context of each country demands different approaches, and where language and long-term thinking are key to progress.

The Development of the AIP Water Investment Scorecard, which will mobilise water and sanitation investments in Africa through political commitment at the highest level in Africa, was formally initiated this week during an online event held on 28 April.