Alex Simalabwi, Executive Secretary of Global Water Partnership in Africa, host of the Technical Support Unit of the AIP, reflects on the year in water that was 2021 and outlines priorities to secure Africa’s water needs for the year ahead.
Since the start of 2021, GWP and the International Water Law Academy (IWLA) of Wuhan University have co-organised a series of online events called "Transboundary Freshwater Security Governance Train" - a 'train' of events stopping around the world at different topics related to the main theme. On 15 June, the initial series concluded with its 6th session on international water law and transboundary groundwater. "We are in front of a puzzle, and this can get very frustrating – there are a lot of pieces, and it takes a lot of time,” said Dr. Francesco Sindico when he described what he called a complex maze of international law applicable to transboundary aquifers.
Music has the power to connect us, tell stories, inform and educate large audiences on various topics. With this in mind and coupled with the fact that this year marks the 16th anniversary of the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C), in mid-June the organisation launched its “Theme Song Challenge.”
The 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Egypt wrapped up on Sunday 20th November with a historic agreement for a fund to help vulnerable countries cope with climate impacts.
On 16 November, the Transboundary Freshwater Security Governance Train stopped at its last destination for this year. Participants had the chance to learn about water diplomacy and negotiation, as well as the tools and methods that can be used to peacefully settle conflicts over shared waters.
African nations have been urged to involve women in micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), as the continent seeks to find solutions to recover from the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
