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Bangkok, Thailand (12/8/2017). Southeast Asia is particularly vulnerable to climate change for several reasons. First and foremost, in many of these countries large portions of the population live in poverty. The proportion of the population living below the poverty line ranges from the lowest in Thailand at 10.2% to 53% in Lao PDR (ADB 2008). The poor are particularly vulnerable to climate change, as they lack the resources necessary for many types of adaptive actions. With its extensive coastlines, Southeast Asia is also home to many millions of people living at low elevations that are at risk from sea level rise. Moreover, ongoing social and environmental challenges in the region – notably growing income inequality, rising food prices, and widespread deforestation – contribute to social vulnerability and make climate change more likely to bring significant harms.

How does GWPEA go about these challenges? Which approaches, resources and solutions?

Working towards a new paradigm on integrated water management

We have seen the Buriganga die a silent death because of abuse by people living in its banks. The river Hooghly is showing the same symptoms - pollution, dumping of waste, sewage water draining into the river, sand mining among others. If it was the Buriganga yeaterday, then it could be the Hooghly tomorrow.

Dr Khondaker Azharul Haq

President, Bangladesh Water Partnership cum

former Managing Director of the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority

In celebrating World Water Day that falls annually on 22nd March, GWPSA joins the rest of the world in reflecting and campaigning on the importance of reducing and reusing wastewater. In the face of growing concerns regarding climate change in the region, the need to meet the ever-increasing demand and efforts towards reaching the SDGs, and promoting innovative approaches to wastewater management and water recovery is imperative. The treatment and reuse of wastewater has become even more critical to contributing to the drive towards the provision of sufficient water for population growth and industrial demands.

On Tuesday, March 22, 2016, the 23^rd edition of the World Water Day was celebrated by the National Institute of water (INE) and CWP Benin with support from CARE, Abms PSI and water Company FIFA. A panel debate was organized on the Campus of the University of Abomey Calavi (UAC), in the presence of the Rector of the University Brice SINSIN on the theme “Water sector in Benin: What employment opportunities for young people?" in relation to the global topic “Water and Employment."

The Executive Secretary of GWP, Rudolph Cleveringa, says that GWP as a network needs to change: “We can’t use the same agenda as we did 20 years ago”. Approaching World Water Day 2016, Cleveringa takes a moment to reflect on GWP’s 20 years in the water world and talks about his vision on how to make the network fit for the future – local inclusion and diversity are words he uses to make his point.

A regional workshop on ‘Transboundary Water Cooperation in the context of the SDGs in South Asia and beyond’ was held in Pokhara, Nepal from 23 and 24 May 2017.