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Join the Marketplace E-Pitch Event – November 2^nd 2016

GWP Southern Africa and the Government of South Africa have organized the first of the series of regional consultations on valuing water initiative in the framework of the High Level Panel on Water (HLPW).

In our 2016 interview series to celebrate GWP 20 years, we talk to Ruth Beukman, Regional Executive Secretary for GWP Southern Africa. After 13 years, she is preparing to leave her job at the end of this year. But she will never completely leave GWP, she says, and speaks fondly of the network – the “GWP family”, whose strength lies in its strong relationships, diversity and flexibility.

Water is one of the most basic human needs and is now currently facing multifaceted complexity. From depleted ground aquifers to polluted river, water has been for quite some time under pressures due to urbanization, population growth, industrialization and so forth.

GWP has supported the consultation process of francophone youth from 21 countries in the creation of a White Paper, which expresses the role of youth in the management of water in the context of climate change. The paper was presented at COP21 in Paris last year. GWP Central America and partners have now launched a contest for youth based on the recommendations of the White Paper.

CWP Mali held on 11 and 12 April 2017 a workshop on the sustainable management of the industrial wate of Sotuba, a district in Bamako with many industries. The event was organized in collaboration with the national agency of cleaning stations of Mali under the patronage of the Minister of environment, sanitation and sustainable development represented by his General Secretary, Mr. Abdoulaye BERTHE.

In Bolivia, shifts towards the privatisation of water supply and sewage services caused strong dissatisfaction, resulting in the eruption of social conflict. Because of the severe dissatisfaction, action was taken to cancel the previous agreements and instead launch a forum where government representatives, social organizations, the private sector and municipalities participate to formulate of a new policy. This case illustrates the crucial importance of rooting policies with the public.

GWPSA will participate in a panel discussion and make a presentation on “Sharing of experiences on successful Water Conservation and Demand Management Programmes in other countries”. The discussion is a part of the sector policy dialogue on Water Conservation and Water Demand Management (WDM) that will be hosted by the Policy Unit under the Department of Water Services, South Africa, and will be held on Wednesday 16^th March, 2016 in Pretoria.

The Country Water Partnership of Burkina is looking for a site for its Integrated Drought Management Project (IDMP) pilot demonstration action. On March 21, 2016, a meeting was held with the authorities and technical services of the municipality of Komki –ipala to discuss the modalities, strategy and project start-up timing. After discussions it was agreed that the CWP should meet the Village Chief and landowners to explain the content and expectations and get their commitment despite the initial introduction that was already done. This meeting was done on March 25 in collaboration with the IDMP project Manager at reginal level.