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Name:                               Maria Amakali

Occupation:                     Director of Water Resources Management

Country:                          Namibia

Country of Work:           Namibia and SADC

What would you say are the main challenges in your work as a woman?

 

I started working as hydrologist in the Department of Water Affairs in the early nineties. I had studied in the US and was ready to come and work in a newly independent Namibia. My responsibilities included planning and execution of research and investigations regarding sustainable development of water resources; and providing advice on the effective utilization, protection and conservation of such resources. At a time I found a lot of males, in the department. Except for the two women scientist in Hydrology Division, most women were doing mostly secretarial or office administrative work. I remember one day standing outside, waiting for my ride home and this man came to me asking whose secretary I was. In an independent Namibia, I was quite shocked that the old stereotype mentality that women can only be secretaries still exists. Those days there were not many women or black hydrologists, but I was still offended.

 

Eighty representatives from a diversity of water–related sectors participated in an informative meeting, held on 22 May 2015 in La Paz, to learn about the advantages of establishing a Country Water Partnership (CWP) in Bolivia.

My name is Celine Pole Sikulisimwa, a Congolese senior lecturer at the University of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. My field of specialization is water science and technology.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) together with a broad range of partners - including GWP - launched the Global Framework for Action to Cope with Water Scarcity in Agriculture in the Context of Climate Change during the Agriculture Action Day of COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco. In April the Partners meet in Rome.

1.  Tell Us, Who is Bogadi Mathangwane?

My full names are Mrs. Bogadi Theresa Mathangwane, National Deputy Director responsible for Water Resources planning, development and management in Botswana.  I am an International Water Resource Management expert and active in promoting water conservation and water demand management measures and practices thus promoting water use efficiency in the country. I possess broad background in social, economic, environmental and technical aspects of water resources.

The Burkina Faso Water Partnership (CWP-BF) organized the first edition of the Water and Sanitation Trophies on Friday, December 2, 2016 in Ouagadougou. The purpose of the event was to magnify, encourage and give visibility to the men and women who have distinguished themselves in the field of water and sanitation. The ceremony was held under the patronage of the former minister of water and current president of the National Assembly, Salifou Diallo, under the presidency of Ambroise Niouga OUEDRAOGO, Minister of Water and Sanitation and the co-sponsorship of Mats HÅRSMAR Chargé d'affaires at the Swedish Embassy in Burkina Faso and Mr. Cheick Fantamady KANTE, Country Representative of the World Bank in Burkina Faso.

The 6th Zambia Water Forum and Exhibition (ZAWAFE) seeks to raise awareness on some of the main implementation challenges related to the themes of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Water Resources Management, Water Quality and Risks.

Addis Ababa, 18^th – 19^th May 2016

The ministers in charge of water of Benin, Burkina and Niger have signed on 22 December 2015 in Cotonou, Benin the framework agreement of cooperation for the promotion of political dialogue and sustainable development of the Mékrou basin, an affluent of the Niger River shared by the three countries.

The general objective of this Cooperation Framework Agreement is to promote political dialogue and sustainable development  of the three states in order to facilitate good governance  in the planning and the integrated and sustainable management of the natural resources of the Mekrou Transboundary sub-basin, taking into account socio-economic needs, food security, poverty reduction through the preservation, the conservation of ecosystems and the improvement of the living conditions of local communities.

Ms Christine GBEDJI VYAHO, Benin Minister of Water