In one of its key activities at COP25, GWP announced a new collaboration with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other partners, to create plausible water solutions for a climate-resilient future in 2030 and beyond. The initiative is called "Water Resilience Frontiers: Pathways for transformational Climate Resilient Water Security in 2030 and Beyond".
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.
On 25 March 2019, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) convened a Gender Mainstreaming in the Water Sector Project Preparation and Financing Clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. The workshop, organised with support from the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA), brought together financiers, project developers/promoters, project implementers, gender focal points and gender machinery from the 16 SADC countries to discuss practical issues with regards to gender mainstreaming during project preparation and mobilising financing processes.
In June 2020, the Ministry of Water Resources sent an expert team to Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province, to explore water development regarding science and technology in mountain areas. Prof Yunzhong Jiang, regional coordinator of GWP China, was one of the professional advisors.
The GovernAgua project: "Transforming water governance in South America: from reaction to adaptation and anticipation” was launched on 26 July. The regional event, supported by GWP South America, took place at the SARAS Institute headquarters (South American Institute for Resilience and Sustainability Studies) and it was broadcast online.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC AR5), the effects of climate change will reduce renewable surface water and groundwater resources in most dry subtropical regions. These changes may intensify competition for water among all sectors, strain already water-scarce environments, and negatively impact water quality and quantity globally. Transboundary water basins are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, says Sonja Koeppel, Secretary of the UNECE Water Convention, as she highlights the up-coming Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on freshwater security that GWP is developing together with partners.
World Water Day (WWD) is commemorated on 22 March every year. This year’s theme was “Leaving no one behind”. GWP and its Partners worldwide supported the theme by arranging a wide range of activities. A few of the events are highlighted here – with more photos and quotes for the day available on GWP’s Instagram account.
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.