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.
Representatives from Lebanese ministries joined a field visit to Nexus related projects in the Shouf region in Lebanon, aiming to address trade-offs across different sectors and generate socioeconomic and environmental advantages, organised by GWP-Med within the framework of the GEF UNEP/MAP MedProgramme.
On 30 January, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and GWP organised an online peer-to-peer exhange on drought management in Latin America and the Caribbean, bringing together 250 experts, policy makers, and scientists from the region.
Burkina Faso, with the financial and technical support of the Secretariat of the Water Convention, has organized a national workshop to inform stakeholders about the process of acceding to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. GWP-WA provided technical and financial support for this national meeting.
