Water governance must embrace gender equality and social inclusion if it is to truly contribute to poverty reduction as the world closes in on 2030, the world’s deadline for meeting the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals. Only by integrating gender and poverty issues into scientific research that informs and finances more equitable and inclusive policies, can we hope to move closer to these important goals.
For our third and final youth voice on water for 2019 we go to the warm Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago to meet Khadija Stewart, who shares her water journey and how social media and communication has guided her to where she is today: “A simple Facebook post changed my life”, she says. The story is part of a collaboration between World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW) and GWP to make sure the voices of youth are heard.
The Strategic Framework for WASH Climate Resilience, developed by GWP and UNICEF, to guide implementors in climate-proofing WASH services, will be a valuable tool in UNICEF’s new drive to bring water security solutions to 450 million children and their families , living in areas of high or extremely high-water vulnerability, by 2025.
GWP held its annual Network Meeting on 25-26 June 2019. Following last year’s success, the meeting was held in a Follow the Sun format – a 29-hour long, online meeting of back-to-back sessions with all GWP regions. A big topic was the new GWP Strategy 2020-2025, which is due to be launched shortly – the meeting adopted the network's new strategic directions.
In Somalia, water is life - literally. It is also a country where much is happening today. The one-person-one-vote election to take place in early 2021 will be a historic milestone in the country’s road back to security, stability, and wellbeing. The economy is growing, driven by increased confidence, reforms, and bank development, and the business community is resilient, globally connected, and entrepreneurial. New opportunities for economic cooperation and integration on the Horn of Africa plays to the country’s advantage. Still, water remains a critical factor in Somalia’s development pathway. It is a water scarce country, at risk of climate related variability, and has to improve its capacity to manage water well in coming years.
GWP-Med is co-organising a Webinar on Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus in Practice – "Technical Solutions in the Mediterranean : Experience and Opportunities" on 21 July 2020, 13:30-15:00 CEST
Since 2004, the Danube Art Master competition has united children from schools, NGOs, clubs, daycare centres in 14 countries of the Danube Basin, who share passion for the rivers and art.