GWP Eastern Africa and four riparian countries – Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda – have received funding from the Adaptation Fund through the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) to implement the project on “Strengthening Drought Resilience for Smallholder Farmers and Pastoralists in the IGAD Region” - the DRESS-EA project. A formal launch of the project takes place online on 6 October.
The Chair of GP-WA, Prof. Amadou H. MAIGA and the Executive Secretary, Mr. Armand HOUANYE visited Senegal from 16 to 21 Novembre 2020 to support the Country Water Partnership (CWP) that is engaging new actions for a renewed dynamism. The chair of CWP Senegal, Dr. Adrien COLY invited the regional leadership to back the CWP in its efforts for consolidating the actions he has started with his team to strengthen the partnership, build new alliances and engage new fund-raising initiatives.
The transboundary issue is key in water resources management in Africa and mostly in West Africa where all countries except the Island of Cape Verde share at least one river with at least another country. The region has 22 major transboundary river basins, and six established transboundary river basin authorities to contribute to strengthen transboundary cooperation.
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is celebrated annually on 17 June to raise awareness around desertification and drought. GWP Senior Water & Climate Specialist Valentin Aich, who works on the Technical Support Unit of the Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP), shares some insights on what’s currently on the IDMP agenda. One of the major activities is expanding the programme to Caucasus and Central Asia (CACENA). Aich is passionate about this but explains that it is a process that will take years to achieve – however, all the elements are now in place and the time is right.
World Toilet Day, celebrated on 19 November, is about taking action to ensure that everyone has a safe toilet by 2030. This is part of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: sanitation and water. The 2018 theme of the day is "When Nature Calls". On the occasion of the day, GWP will do a Facebook Live interview with Kanika Thakar, Founder of #ToiletTalk.
On 5 November 2019, Partners of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) Southern Africa announced the new Chair of GWP Southern Africa and Africa Coordination Unit (GWPSA-ACU): His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania. His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete was the 4th President of the United Republic of Tanzania from 2005-2015.
