GWP celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) 2019 on 8 March by joining the global campaign #BalanceforBetter that reflects GWP’s commitment to gender equality. GWP also launched its Instagram account in the lead-up to the day to feature the voices of its global network – starting with the voices of those who speak for strengthening the role of women in water management.
For International Women's Day 2020, celebrated on 8 March, UN Women chose the theme, "I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights.” GWP reached out to women in its worldwide network, asking them to share stories on what they learned on their journey to taking on leadership roles in the water sector.
“Since childhood, I was always in awe of everything related to the development sector. I had the ambition to help the disadvantaged populations in my country and in Africa”, says Félicité Vodounhessi, Programme Officer for GWP West Africa. In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD2020) she shares her career story on becoming a Water and Rural Equipment Engineer.
From 26 to 29 November 2019, a tour was organized to disseminate at the local level, reviews on the management of the Water, Hygiene and Sanitation sectors. The results of the report on the mapping of integrity risks in the said sector were also shared in a separate meeting.
GWP West Africa held its statutory meetings in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from 23 to 26 September on the theme "Accelerating progress in IWRM implementation to achieve water-related SDGs in West Africa: challenges, innovative approaches and roles of partnerships". These include the meeting of the Budget and Finance Committee on 23 September; the Steering Committee on 24 September 2019; and the Assembly of Partners (AP) on 26 September 2019. On 25 September, the regional dialogue was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Sanitation of Burkina Faso, the ECOWAS Water Resources Management Centre and the West African Monetary and Economic Union (UEMOA).
GWP set ambitious goals for 2020, the year it launched its new strategy, which were met by unexpected challenges due to the global pandemic. Nonetheless, the GWP network adjusted rapidly to the new situation, and substantial results were achieved.
GWP set ambitious goals for 2020, the year it launched its new strategy, which were met by unexpected challenges due to the global pandemic. Nonetheless, the GWP network adjusted rapidly to the new situation, and substantial results were achieved.
