It’s been called the African COP, the Adaptation COP, the Implementation COP, the Solutions COP, and the Development COP. Clearly, there is a lot riding on the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) this 6–18 November. It marks the 30th anniversary of the Convention’s adoption, but also a new and difficult phase in global climate action.
Africa Climate Week 2020 was set to place on 20-24 April in Kampala, Uganda, however, in light of the Coronavirus crisis, the event has been postponed - a new date is yet to be announced. The theme remains “Partnering for transformation towards a low-carbon climate resilient and prosperous Africa: managing risks, seizing opportunities.”
The members of the Country Water Partnership (CWP) of Mali had on 02 and 03 June a meeting to exchange with the consultant recruited by the Embassy of the Netherlands to assist the CWP-MALI in the continuation of the MoU signed with the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP).
In December 2020, GWP welcomed six new members on its Steering Committee, adding to seven members who have served longer. The Committee acts as a Board of Directors for the GWP Network and the GWP Organisation (GWPO). The members rotate every three or six years. Now, for the first time, a Permanent Youth Seat has been added. Jamilla Sealy from Barbados is the new representative on this seat. “Being the first youth, and also being a female of African descent and from the Caribbean, which are often under-represented in the global sphere, makes it a humbling experience”, she says about her appointment.
The 6th PIDA Week was postponed in 2020, but it is now set to take place 18-21 January. The event is hosted by the Government of South Africa under the auspices of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). The theme is “New decade, new realities, new priorities – positioning PIDA and infrastructure development in Africa’s continued growth and economic recovery”. On 18 January, GWP Africa and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) are co-convening a session titled “Mobilising resources for PIDA Water Projects”.
The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) convenes the 2020 edition of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) from Tuesday 7 July to Thursday 16 July. The event will mainly be in a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with some limited events held for New York-based participants.
August 12 marks International Youth Day, and the 2021 edition has the theme, “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health.” We spoke with youth in West and Southern Africa about their involvement in GWP activities around water and food. What are the challenges and how can youth contribute to securing the water-food chain?
GWP-Central Africa (GWP-CAf) is hiring a regional technical assistant to support the implementation of its regional programs in Cameroon and the Central African Republic.
