GWP Central America is part of the organising committee for the sub-regional process leading up to the 8th World Water Forum, to be held in Brasilia, March 2018. In this capacity, GWP Central America, together with GWP Caribbean, held an online consultation to identify cross-cutting themes and topics that will be discussed at the Forum next year. The results were presented at the 2nd Stakeholders Consultation Meeting in Brasilia, on April 26-27.
Good governance around transboundary waters is critical for water security, regional socio-economic development, peace, and stability. Since 2010, GWP has been conducting capacity building trainings on International Water Law (IWL) and water governance. While there is no shortage of trainings on transboundary water issues, the uniqueness of GWP’s IWL workshops lie in the peer-to-peer and cross-continental learning, says GWP Senior Network Specialist Yumiko Yasuda. This has proved to be a successful formula that GWP is now ready to take to the next level – an online platform to support existing training and close learning gaps.
In the spirit of building resilience to climate change, GWPEA conducted consultations with different stakeholders in the three catchments of Uganda (Aswa, Awoja, Maziba) where EURECCCA Project is being implemented
Michèle Okala coordinates the work of RECOJAC – the Network of Water and Climate Organisations of Central African Youth. She is one of the founding members and she is also in charge of youth issues for GWP Central Africa. Michèle has been volunteering for over 8 years, and she shares some insights to what she has learned – and what she hopes to leave as her legacy: “I created RECOJAC for the generation that will come after me. I am only laying the foundation.”
On 6 June 2017, Kenya Water Partnership held an extraordinary General Assembly Meeting at Grace House Resort Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting objective was to address governance issues, elect new office bearers and meet requirements for accreditation
GWP staff from around the world gather once a year to discuss current issues and plan for the future. This year's meeting takes place in Amman, Jordan, on 13-16 May. The main focus will be around the GWP Strategy 2020-2025.
On March 27th, 2018, the Winward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF) became the new Host Institution (HI) of the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C). Established in 1994, WINDREF is an independent non-profit organisation based at the St. George’s University (SGU) in Grenada. The organisation works to advance health and environmental development through multi-disciplinary research and education programmes. It also promotes regional and international collaborative relationships.
Water insecurity costs the global economy roughly US$ 500 billion annually and causes the death and displacement of more people than cyclones, floods and earthquakes combined. In particularly vulnerable economies, a 50% reduction in drought effects could lead to a 20% increase in per capita GDP over a period of 30 years. Therefore, mechanisms to enhance integrated drought management are more critical than ever.
On Wednesday, 30 August 2017, an awareness and information workshop for civil society, the media and the general public was held in Cotonou on the ECOWAS Directive on the development of hydraulic infrastructures. The workshop was organized by the Benin Country Water Partnership in collaboration with the Ministry in charge of water and the financial support of the IUCN Global Water Initiative (GWI) Project.