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In 2020, the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) began supporting the Government of the Dominican Republic (DR) to develop estimates of increased risk of flooding and landslides due to rainfall projections under climate change scenarios. This technical study was completed in the last quarter of 2020. It is one of a series of activities and outputs by GWP-C to inform the preparation of the country’s submission for the second round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and is part of the Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP) from the NDC Partnership.

The Development of the AIP Water Investment Scorecard, which will mobilise water and sanitation investments in Africa through political commitment at the highest level in Africa, was formally initiated this week during an online event held on 28 April.

In July 2020, a webinar series will be held on “Coordinating, Implementing, and Financing National Climate and Water Policy Frameworks”. It has been developed by Cap-Net, UNDP, Global Water Partnership, AGWA, SIWI, and the Water Governance Facility. The webinars will highlight and contribute to strengthening climate and water linkages in national frameworks such as NDCs, NAPs, and various investment mechanisms.

Edition January-February 2021

Cambodia: Cambodia’s Tonle Sap shows what’s at stake in the Mekong’s dam-fueled decline; Wastewater treatment plant in Southern Phnom Penh to be built in late April; Indonesia: Jakarta's river troops remove 436 cubic meters of garbage; Lao PDR: Laos issues new decree on dams; Malaysia: Air Selangor to employ retention ponds as fallback against pollution-related disruptions; Myanmar: Water problems draining the pockets of Yangonites; Philippines: Congress should pass ‘Dept of Water’ bill; Thailand: PWA well-prepared for drought scenarios; Viet Nam: HCM City's major environment and sanitation project face slow progress; Singapore: S'pore's fourth desalination plant, which can treat both sea and reservoir water, officially opens; and more stories are provided.

GWP held its annual Regional Days meeting on 1-4 June. The virtual event set a record in numbers, with over 120 GWP participants worldwide. While the main purpose is to have a shared understanding of GWP priorities and approaches, one of the highlights this year was the ‘virtual signing’ of a grant agreement between GWP and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) on readiness support to the Zambia National Adaptation Plan (NAP).

How can Mediterranean countries effectively address the COVID-19 emergency, without neglecting long-standing sustainable development challenges and water commitments in particular? What are the water agenda-related investment strategies that can promote climate resilience and sustainable development targets, while also helping to deal with the crisis and assist immediate recovery?

GWP-Med, as key partner to the Cairo Water Week since its launch in 2018, co-organised and facilitated a day-event and two sessions, giving a strong message for enhanced focus on facilitating investments in the water sector, the role of gender in water diplomacy and mobilizing Young Professionals in the fight to meet the SDGs.

GWP Sri Lanka conducted an awareness raising on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) among adolescent girls through a programme organised at a girls’ school, Matale on 5 July as part of their Water Messenger Programme planned under the Core Activities.

In 2014, GWP and UNICEF established a strategic partnership to work on climate resilience and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). While the world’s focus is currently on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and its immediate consequences, the GWP-UNICEF collaboration is preparing for the next phase of this crisis: the support needed once governments begin to rebuild economies and introduce recovery plans to bring renewed, sustainable progress in their countries.

On 22 April, International Mother Earth Day is celebrated worldwide to remind us that the Earth and its ecosystems provide us with life and sustenance.