GlobalSouthern AfricaClimate

Water, Climate and Development Programme launched in Zimbabwe

The Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) in partnership with the Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management (MWRDM), today launches the Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP) for Africa in Zimbabwe.
The launch, which is in the form of an Inception Workshop is being held on 10 and 11th April 2013 at the Holiday Inn, Harare, Zimbabwe.

The WACDEP aims to integrate water security and climate resilience in development planning processes, build climate resilience and support countries to adapt to a new climate regime through increased investments in water security.

The programme is being implemented for three years, ending in 2015. The initiative is being implemented at country and transboundary level. These include eight countries, four transboundary river basins and one shared aquifer for in-depth work; Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tunisia and Zimbabwe; Limpopo Basin, Kagera Basin, Lake Chad Basin and Volta Basin and the North-Western Sahara Aquifer System. The transboundary basin approach will enable at least 23 African countries to benefit from the results of the initiative.

In addition to the MWRMD who are the members of the African Ministerial Council on Water as well as the lead institution in the development of the National Climate Change Response Strategy some of the other key WACDEP stakeholders attending the workshop include the Office of the President and Cabinet through the Chairman of the National Task Team on Climate Change, The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Secretariat of the National Task Team through the Climate Change Office.

The objectives of the Inception Workshop

The objectives of the Inception Workshop are to:

  1. Officially launch WACDEP in Zimbabwe and kick start implementation of the programme
  2. Ensure relevant stakeholders are aware of WACDEP and its intended objectives in Zimbabwe
  3. Have an understanding of how different sectors in Zimbabwe are dealing with water security and climate resilience issues
  4. Build linkages for water security issues with the National Climate Change Response Strategy

The launch is being officiated by the Honourable S.S. Nkomo, the Minister of Water Resources Development and Management.  Mr. T. Musukutwa, Permanent Secretary for Special Affairs, Office of the President and Cabinet and Ms. F. Nhekairo, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resource Management are also special invited guests.

For additional information, please contact:
Mr. Michael Ramaano, Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA), Regional Programme Officer, tel. +27 (12) 845 9117 (Pretoria), m.ramaano@cgar.org 
Mr.  Zvikomborero Manyangadze, Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management (MWRDM, Harare), zmanyangadze@hotmail.com

For further information, please download the press release.