In 2021, GWP and Wuhan International Water Law Academy are co-organising an interactive online series called the "Transboundary freshwater security governance train". The sessions are conducted in an approach of a ‘train’, stopping at various locations in the world. At each of the stops, a different topic from the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) for Governance for Transboundary Freshwater Security is explored. On 16 February, the 2nd session in the series looks at ecosystems, international law and transboundary water cooperation.
World Wetlands Day is celebrated on 2 February every year to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and our planet. The 2021 theme shines a spotlight on wetlands as a source of freshwater and encourages actions to restore them and stop their loss.
The 2021 edition of the European Development Days (EDD21) will take place on 15-16 June. The event is fully digital, and the theme is "The Green Deal for a Sustainable Future". On the first day, the SDG 6 IWRM Support Programme, which GWP coordinates in partnership with UNEP, UNEP-DHI Centre and Cap-Net UNDP, will be featured in a session on "Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) to accelerate progress on the SDGs". Registration for all sessions is now open.
Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity, were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year on 17 May to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification.
Following the Adaptation Fund’s approval in June 2021 of the pre-concept note for the “Integrated Water Resources Management and Early Warning System for climate resilience in the Lake Chad Basin” project, the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), in collaboration with the GWP-Central Africa (GWP-CAf) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) organized a hybrid session of the first regional stakeholder consultation workshop in N’Djamena from February 21st – 22nd 2022.
Within the framework of the AIP WACDEP-G program, GWP-CAf in collaboration with the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Energy (DGRE) STP and GWP Sao Tome and Principe (PNASTP) organised a virtual/in-person gender training for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector managers in Sao Tome and Principe from April 6th to 8th 2021.
The Country Water Partnership of Guinea (PNEGUI) took part on September 30, 2021, in the scoping workshop for the development of the national action plan for integrated water resources management (PAGIRE).
The 5th edition of the AfriAlliance Innovation Bridge Event takes place online on 29 October. It will address social innovation and its four dimensions gathering diverse stakeholders across all levels of government and the sectors of climate, water, environment, sustainability and innovation, inter alia.
On 23 June, GWP Chair Howard Bamsey took part in a panel discussion on water and climate organised by pharmaceutical company Bayer and the Water and Climate Coalition. Bamsey said the water community needs to better articulate the central role of water in climate: “Water is a part of the climate struggle.”
The Expert Working Group on Monitoring & Information Exchange (EWG MIE) was used as a platform for transboundary cooperation to discuss action to address the current threat of decreased water levels in Lake Prespa.
