Across West and Central Africa, surface temperatures have increased significantly over the last 50 years. The primary impacts of climate change are mostly felt through water. Climate-related events such as droughts and flooding are already having a significant and diverse impact across the region, exacerbating existing challenges such as rapid population growth, extreme poverty, water shortages, rapid urbanisation and conflict.
GWP had a strong presence at this year’s Stockholm World Water Week (WWW), from 25-30 August. A large delegation participated in over 30 sessions, and the GWP Strategy for 2020-2025 was launched at a side event. The booth – the focal point of all GWP’s representatives, partners, and collaborators – was designed to encourage interactivity and inclusive participation.
#LeavingNoOneBehind is another global campaign of GWP in March of 2019. Multiple partners in the network from 85 countries are loyal supporters to GWP on this theme in the run-up to #WWD2019.
Several partners among which the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate of Zimbabwe and the Municipality of Marondera have come together to help Zimbabwe develop an Integrated Water and Wastewater Master Plan that will, in part, present detailed prioritized investments for the municipality of Marondera, financed by the African Water Facility. This project will also build the capacity of the key sector players, which will in the long term foster an integrated approach in managing the water and sanitation facilities in the country.
On 29-30 November 2018, GWPEA organized a media field visit for selected media outlets/practicing journalists drawn from seven media houses to explore further the aspects of drought risk management in Mubende, Uganda and develop stories to be aired in Uganda as well as potential case studies.
United Nations Water (UN-Water) coordinates the efforts of United Nations entities and international organizations working on water and sanitation issues. The UN Regional Commissions are mandated to provide recommendations from all regions for a more efficient model for regional level coordination of UN-Water activities, in the context of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development and with a focus on SDG6.
ECOWAS Water Resources Coordination Center organized a meeting in Lomé, Togo from 25-27 October 2017 to present, discuss and validate the 63 IWRM indicators of ECOWAS and the 40 indicators of AMCOW.
A systematic water monitoring campaign provides baseline for the transboundary Lake Ohrid Watershed Management Plan being developed by GEF Drin Project