The fifth cohort meeting and the Progress Meeting of Bhutan of the Built Water Storage, South Asia project were held back-to-back from 27 to 30 August 2024 in Paro, Bhutan. The focuses of these gatherings were to present the Bhutan Cohort on the Policy and Institutional Study of Water Storage and Water Storage mapping on Bhutan and to provide hands-on experience for all the cohort members on the application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing technologies to map and assess water storage across diverse landscapes.
The 3rd WEFE Inter-ministerial Group meeting led by the Ministry of Energy and Water, Lebanon and facilitated by GWP-Med under the GEF UNEP/MAP MedProgramme addressed the issue of water data availability and gaps, marking a step forward towards cross-institutional collaboration, essential for integrated natural resources management.
The Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) embarked on an innovative Pilot project to tackle water scarcity in the agricultural sector. In response to Grenada’s most recent drought experienced this year, GWP-C sought to promote strategies to tackle water scarcity and implement procedures for water conservation. As such the organisation raised awareness on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Agriculture through the use of IRROGOPTIMAL technology.
The Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) is supporting the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to shape the future of water management across the CARICOM Region. GWP-C is the consulting agency for the Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (GEF-IWEco) Project; one that is important to develop a comprehensive Regional Action Framework for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).
In a collaborative effort to ensure the integrity and reliability of essential water infrastructure, GWP-C teamed up with Daniel and Daniel Engineering Inc. to conduct a comprehensive site inspection at the intake structure/dam and transmission/Distribution mains located in Mt. Granby, St. John. The seven-man technical team, assembled by Daniel and Daniel Engineering Inc., carried out the inspection under the expert guidance of retiree Michael “Freshy” Fleming.
As part of the Asia-Pacific Water Scarcity Programme (WSP), the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) convened the second National Multidisciplinary Team (NMT) Meeting online on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. Seventy-six members from various ministries and organizations participated in the webinar to review the progress of the WSP and discuss the updated framework for the Water Scarcity Action Plan (WSAP).
The governments of Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the joint management and development of the Ruvuma/Rovuma River Basin, a transboundary river basin traversing across the three SADC member states. Ministers of Water from the three member states; Hon. Abida Mia from Malawi, Hon. Carlos Alberto Fortes Mesquita from Mozambique, and Hon. Jumas Hamidu Aweso from Tanzania, signed the MoU on behalf of their countries.
GWP Eastern Africa Regional coordinator George Sanga joined participants from the Netherlands and 7 Africa countries (Burkina Faso, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, and South Africa), and Dutch Blue Deal partners for a workshop on sustainable financing of Integrated Water Resource Management. He shared the GWPEA experience with implementing the SDG6 IWRM Support Program on how the Blue Deal program can replicate the Matchmaking Initiative pilot in Kenya to mobilize financial resources in target countries.
These topics of water pricing, nature-based solutions, financial opportunities were discussed and an interesting excursion gave insights into the challenges of a local WRUA (Water Resources Users Association) in implementation of a Mangrove restauration project on the shores of the Indian Ocean.
On May 31, 2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) of Lao PDR, represented by the CREWS Project's Focal Point, and GWP SEA, through the GWP Lao PDR, held a Hybrid Kick-off Meeting on the Development of Drought Management and IWRM Action Plan at the Vientiane Plaza Hotel in Lao PDR.
