The countdown to the world’s largest water event is under way and this year, for the first time, the World Water Forum will be held in sub-Saharan Africa.
2021 marks 25 years since Global Water Partnership (GWP) was founded with a mission to foster Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and – ultimately – to achieve a water secure world. Throughout 2021, celebrations will take place in the worldwide network of 3,000 Partners, highlighting past successes and setting new goals for future achievements.
Thirty representatives of public and private institutions in Sao Tomé and Principe have been trained by experts from GWP South America on the IWRM Action Hub (GWP Toolbox).
On 18 November, the Starting at the Source to Save the Ocean event was co-convened by members of the Action Platform for Source-to-Sea Management (S2S), as part of the United Nations ‘Ocean Decade’ (2021–2030). Participants learned of the importance of taking action on land in order to improve ocean health. The event focused on the interlinkages of freshwater and marine water resources.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Volta Basin Authority (VBA) and Global Water Partnership West Africa (GWP-WA) are implementing the project "Integrating Flood and Drought Management and Early Warning for Climate Change Adaptation in the Volta Basin (VFDM)" funded by the Adaptation Fund. The project activities, which started in June 2019, are ongoing and will be completed by mid-2023.
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is a United Nations observance celebrated each year on 17 June. Its purpose is to raise awareness around desertification and drought, highlighting methods on how to prevent these from occurring. The 2021 edition focuses on turning degraded land into healthy land - the event key words are restoration, land and recovery.
Cairo Water Week (CWW) is an annual event organised by the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation in collaboration with national, regional and international partners, including GWP Mediterranean. The 4th edition of CWW takes place on 24-28 October under the theme “Water, Population and Global Changes: Challenges and Opportunities”. The event will be arranged in a hybrid style, with some in person sessions in Cairo, Egypt, and some online.