The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Water Energy Food (WEF) Regional Governance Framework is expected to strengthen WEF Nexus governance in the region. The Framework together with the web- based regional investment project screening and appraisal tool form part of the milestones achieved during the first phase of the WEF Nexus Project implemented from January 2017 to December 2019. The WEF Nexus Phase One has also been key to promoting the WEF Nexus agenda in the SADC region, attracting high-level political buy-in in the region and interest beyond the SADC region.
2020 proved to be a difficult year for people worldwide, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cascading effects this brought to every aspect of life, both personal and professional. While 2021 may not seem that different to 2020, there are glimmers of hope that show a light at the end of a dark tunnel. In the ongoing collaboration on youth stories between GWP and the World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW), we asked young people what gives them hope in 2021.
GWP is coordinating the formulation of a Water Resources Strategy and Action Plan for the Nacaome, Choluteca and Sampile river basins in the Gulf of Fonseca region in Honduras. The Strategy was validated in a series of workshops in December and January and is expected to be finalized during the month of March 2021.
The alternative report is the result of the alternative monitoring done by the civil society and which allows to have a citizens' point of view on the management of the sector, other than the one given by the Decision-Makers.
In their support to the Government of Togo GWP WA, UNICEF and UNDP have recruited consultants for a mission to develop a high-quality concept note and conduct a pre-feasibility study for the project: "Strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities in Togo through IWRM and Climate Sensitive WASH Services".
The West Africa coordination of the WACDEP-G project with Benin team held on 23 December 2020 the inception meeting of the programme in Cotonou, Benin. This meeting is part of the AIP WACDEP-G. The goal of the Africa Water Investment Programme is to transform and improve the investment outlook for water security and sustainable sanitation for a prosperous, peaceful and equitable society.
The 2021 European River Symposium is scheduled for 26-27 May. The event will focus on building connections between institutions, organisations and companies with an interest in rivers and whose activities affect the health and quality of river water and ecosystems.
In a series of inter-regional discussions, GWP Senior Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist Liza Debevec is investigating what GWP as an institution can do to apply gender equality and social inclusion in its practical work. From the GWP Gender Action Piece, published in 2017, she looks at the 4 action areas that were identified as key to progress. This month, she talked to Colin Herron and Fabiola Tábora about Action Area 2 – gender and inclusion analysis that drives change. Both Herron and Tábora are involved in finalizing complementary gender analyses in their respective areas of expertise – global and regional (Central America) – and they discuss how to use the findings to transform water resources management through gender mainstreaming.
2nd Technical Workshop on Project Preparation for Transformational Climate Resilience Water Projects in the Mediterranean Region for the Green Climate Fund: Special Focus on Gender/2ème atelier technique sur la préparation de projets
transformationnels et résilients au climat liés à l’eau dans la région méditerranéenne pour le Fonds Vert pour le Climat:Focus spécial sur le genre
