On 09 March 2017, the Executive Secretary of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory(OSS), Mr. Khatim Kherraz and the Ugandan Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Matia Kassaija signed in Kampala, Uganda and Agreement for the implementation of the project called “Enhancing resilience of communities to climate change through catchment based integrated management of water and related resources in Uganda” (EURECCCA).
A trained session was organized on 21 and 23 November 2016 by the Country Water Partnership of Benin to strengthen the capacity of its staff and some representatives of the CWP bodies on procurement issues in Benin.
On December 22, 2016, Mr. Wei Shanzhong, the Commissioner of the Yangtze River Commission, Mr. Jia Hujun, Vice Commissioner, Mr. Jin Xingping, Chief Engineer and other leaders of the Commission paid a visit to Mdm. Cai Qihua, Chair of GWP China.
March 22 marks World Water Day 2017. This year’s theme is wastewater. GWP has published two blogs about the theme, and conducted a Facebook Live interview with Rami Abdel Rahman of the Sweden Textile Water Initiative. Around the GWP Network, various celebrations are taking place. However, the main GWP celebration this year concerns the very website you are currently on – the launch of a completely new www.gwp.org.
GWP, together with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW), opened a high-level discussion on how financing water security can accelerate delivery on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event, the first in a series of discussions on ‘financing SDG 6’, took place in Stockholm on 29 August.
Partners of the Global Framework for Action to Cope with Water Scarcity in Agriculture in a Changing Climate (the Global Framework) met in Rome, Italy, on 19-20 April. This was the first meeting since the initiative was launched last year. A statement was issued to demonstrate commitment to address water scarcity in agriculture. As a Partner, GWP participated and was also confirmed as a member of an interim Steering Committee.
The Africa Water Facility (AWF)/ African Development Bank (AfDB) and Global Water Partnership (GWP) are supporting the Development Plan and Feasibility Study for Urban Sanitation, Drainage and Solid Waste Management in Chimoio and Inhambane in Mozambique. The overall goal of the investments is to improve climate resilience and health in the two target municipalities. This will be achieved through improved services in sanitation, drainage and solid waste management, impacting in the form of reduced risk for flooding and improved health. From the 8th to the 16th March 2017, Representatives from GWP and AWF/ AfDB attended the project launch mission in Maputo, Chimoio and Inhambane.
The 2nd Consultation Workshop on enhancing the potential for Private Sector Participation in Water Infrastructure in Lebanon, with emphasis on the role of Banks was organised on 10 October 2017 as part of the National Policy Dialogue on Governance and Financing of water projects.