Through a high-impact engagement, GWP advanced many of its strategic objectives at the World Water Week 2024, co-convening events and collaborating with global leaders and partners, both longstanding and new, under the theme ‘Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future’. With record participation in Stockholm and online, GWP emphasised water’s critical role in peacebuilding and sustainability, reaffirming its commitment to actionable, cross-border water solutions.
The governments of Angola and Namibia have officially endorsed and kickstarted the implementation of a joint transboundary water project titled "Enhanced Water Security and Community Resilience in the Adjacent Cuvelai and Kunene Transboundary River Basins." This initiative aims to address the pressing challenges of water scarcity, floods, and droughts in the Cuvelai and Kunene River Basins.
The Global Water Leadership Program-Rwanda launched a response strategy aims at strengthening water resilience in Rwanda in the event held on 22 March 2024 at Radisson Blu Kigali. This event, coincided with the celebration of the 2024 World Water Day themed “Leveraging Water for Peace and Prosperity” brought together representatives from various government institutions, international organizations, regional and national institutions.
GWP hosted a special side-event on "Source-to-Sea action for Healthy Rivers & a Clean & Healthy Ocean" at the 9th 'Our Ocean' Conference in Athens, Greece on 16 April 2024, moderated by Dimitris Faloutsos, Deputy Regional Coordinator of GWP Mediterranean and Deputy Coordinator, Transboundary water cooperation theme, and co-organised with distinguished partners, Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy, Global Environment Facility (GEF), FAO, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO), and SIWI.
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.
Countries sharing transboundary river basins often have conflicting demands over the available amount of water to be divided among them. Reaching an agreement often relies on available water data and forecasting. Negotiations over a water-sharing agreement or basin management arrangement benefit greatly from trust-building exercises, for example, conducting joint water data analyses or integrating scientific knowledge about water into the management decisions.
