The national meeting to validate and launch the Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP) in Ghana for ‘no/low’ regrets investments to increase access to water and sustainable development was held on 11^th July, 2013 at Erata Hotel in Accra. The meeting was organised by the Ghana Country Water Partnership (G-CWP) in collaboration with the National Level Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP) of the Resource Centre Network under the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing.

Professor Abel Akambi AFOUDA visited Ouagadougou from 6 to 11 June 2013. This was his first visit as the new Chair to the Secretariat to touch realities of his collaborators and have an overview of main issues to tackle by GWP at regional level. He also had some discussions with his predecessor.

During the first quarter of 2013, CWP-Benin was busy with the final work (technical and financial reports, project final report; capitalization report) of the Multiannual program to support Water and sanitation sector (PPEA) phase I implemented by CWP-Benin which was completed in December 2012. Similarly, the CWP has also participated actively in the formulation and the launching of phase 2 of the program which will run over three years from 2013 to 2015.

The MoU signed on April 9, 2013 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso aims at "formalizing the commitment of both parties to agree on how to use funds made available to the VBA for the implementation of WACDEP activities."

The MoU signed on April 9, 2013 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso aims at "formalizing the commitment of both parties to agree on how to use funds made available to the VBA for the implementation of WACDEP activities."

The first West African Sub Regional Water Integrity Capacity-Building Workshop for Ghana and Sierra Leone was held at the Mirage Royale Hotel, East Legon, Accra, Ghana from 08^th to 12^th April 2013 was successful as it trained 29 participants on water integrity.

CWP meeting: CWP urged to go for accreditation

Around 100 participants, representing 50 different organizations around Nigeria, attended the General Assembly of Partners of the Country Water Partnership of Nigeria held on 14 February 2013. The General Assembly was opened by the Minister of Water Resources Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, also co-Chair of AMCOW for West Africa, who urged GWP Nigeria to strengthen and expand their activities towards achieving adequate management of water resource in the country.

Regional priorities in groundwater management in West Africa are knowledge; environmental, social and economic aspects; irrigation and climate change; dialogue and communication; management and institutional aspects; and capacity building/improving competence. 

Collaboration among West African countries has led to the development of IWRM action plans in Togo, Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire, and IWRM roadmaps in Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone.