Online, Southeast Asia | November 4, 2025 - The Global Water Partnership Southeast Asia (GWP-SEA) convened water leaders, practitioners, and partners from across the region for a virtual regional learning exchange on Policy to Practice: Regional Actions on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) also marked a milestone moment: the Regional Launch of the GWP Global Transformation Agenda 2026–2030, signalling stronger commitment to water governance, climate resilience, and long-term investment in the region.
During the Horizon Europe SpongeWorks second General Assembly, participants were updated about the project's achievements, witnessed first hand the implementation of sponge measures in the French demonstrator and provided input on the way forward. GWP-Med received the Outreach and Impact award for its impactful communication of the project's activities.
A new online course under the framework of the GEF UNEP/MAP MedProgramme empowers policymakers and experts to navigate the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus and turn complexity into opportunity across the Mediterranean.
The Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) continues to inspire large-scale water-investment efforts across the world. Following calls from world leaders, including H.E. Ban Ki-moon, 8th UN Secretary-General, and H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, to replicate Africa’s proven model in other regions, momentum is now building for the USD 20 billion Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Water Investment Programme, set for launch in 2026.
The UNDP-GEF Project “Supporting Sustainable Inclusive Blue Economy Transformation in African Small Island Developing States (African SIDS), through the African Union Commission and GWPSA, participated in an IW: Learn Twinning Exchange organised as part of the Global Environment Facility International Waters (GEF IW): LEARN 5 initiatives to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing between International Waters projects across regions. The exchange activities took place in Colombia and Belize from 27 October to 4 November 2025.
On 22 August 2025, a groundbreaking pilot project was launched with the mission to accelerate the protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems across Pakistan. Just days later, momentum continued in Islamabad with the first Country Stakeholder Workshop, held on 2 September.