To strengthen journalists understanding of water security and climate resilience for effective communication with stakeholders, the Central Africa Republic Country Water Partnership (PNE-RCA), with the technical and financial support of the GWP Central Africa (GWP-CAF) and UNICEF, organized a two day capacity building workshop for media professionals in Bangui in December 2019. The participants at the workshop expressed their gratitude for the initiative and committed to contribute to the sensitization of stakeholders on water security and climate resilience. They also made a series of recommendations to key stakeholders, on enhancing water security and climate resilience. Steps have since been taken by PNE-RCA to implement the recommendations made towards the establishment of a network of water and climate journalists, and plans have been made to sustain it through subsequent capacity building workshops.
The Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government have formally adopted the progressive Continental Africa Water Investment Program (AIP), during its 34th Ordinary Session, held on 7th February, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are a powerful framework for laying out priorities for national climate action, with the potential to guide priorities such as building climate resilience and climate-resilient infrastructure. They can be developed into country-level strategies and/or approaches for mobilising finance for climate resilient infrastructure programmes and projects and for enhancing the necessary policy and regulatory frameworks. The first window of opportunity ahead is the submission of new or updated NDCs in 2020.
GWP co-designed a webinar series on farmer-led irrigation (FLI) in partnership with the World Bank, the International Water Management Institute, and the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute. The 2-part series, which concluded on 9 July, highlighted the need for innovative water solutions to support agricultural production systems in a changing climate. FLI development has gained increased attention as one of the solutions to build climate resilience for smallholder farmers. GWP is involved with stakeholders in several countries on FLI initiatives.
The East Africa Water Summit (EAWATERS) is an annual multi-stakeholder water community engagement platform in East Africa. The 4th edition of the Summit is held 21-22 November in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Global Water Partnership Mediterranean GEF/UNDP/GWP-Med project 'Enabling transboundary cooperation and integrated water resources management in the extended Drin River Basin' (GEF Drin Project) is making efforts to raise public awareness about the natural wealth and cultural heritage of the Drin River Basin through the celebration of Drin Day 2020.
