The GWP network used the 8th World Water Forum, the world's largest water-related event, to demonstrate the impact of its multi-stakeholder partnership on improving the way the world manages its water resources. GWP was involved in over 40 events during the week and many network Partners were present, as well as representatives of the global office and the GWP regions.
The rapid population growth in cities, coupled with a changing climate pose great challenges for both people and nature. An integrated water management approach is required to achieve resilience while creating a livable urban environment.
GWP continues engaging on WASH climate resilience through its collaboration with UNICEF. A Strategic Framework was developed to provide WASH service delivery that is resilient to climate change, and a series of technical briefs and learning modules support the implementation of the Framework. All materials are now available on a new website.
The regional secretariat has continued activities to strengthen the collaboration with strategic partners at regional level. After 2017 year ending activities with the Volta Basin Authority, a meeting was held on 31st January 2018 at VBA to exchange on concrete actions to carry out jointly by the two institutions.
On Wednesday 31 January 2018, the Via Water project was launched in Cotonou, Benin. The launch ceremony took place under the sponsorship of the Deputy Secretary General of the Minister of Water and Mines, in the presence of the actors of the consortium in charge of the said project, the representatives of public structures of the sub-sector, the Ministry of Health, the young water professionals of the Beninese Network of Youth of the World Water Parliament (RB/PMJE) and the economic operators of the water sector.
The Water Management Commission for the Sélingué and Markala reservoirs (CGESM) was in conclave in Sélingué to take stock of the various recommendations of their previous session; namely: the report on the monitoring of the Sélingué hydroelectric dam from 1 to 20 January 2018 and the results of the simulation of storage and filling 2018 of this dam, as well as the monitoring of the management of the Markala dam in response to the water deficit this year.
On 26 December 2017, the Malian Minister of Energy and Water, Malick Alhousseini, opened a three-day workshop to inform and sensitize stakeholders on the state of the Niger River. Organized by the Department of Energy and Water in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Sanitation and Sustainable Development, the workshop aims to inform and sensitize all water stakeholders on the state of the Niger River and the current year's hydrological deficit.
The Country Water Partnership (CWP) of Mali held an extraordinary meeting of its partners on 27 January 2018 to review its basic texts (Statutes and regulations). The main changes are that the permanent secretary who was elected is now giving place to a recruited Executive secretary and is heading a secretariat that may include recruited personnel for projects and programmes.
Following a meeting on 12th January 2018, the Executive Board of the Guinea Country Water Partnership (CWP) was mandated to start the implementation of the Action Plan by organizing official visits in order to improve the visibility of the national network.
The Eighth World Water Forum is scheduled to take place from 19th to 23rd March 2018 in Brasilia, Brazil. The Regional Process is one of the key processes used to prepare for the Forum. Among other objectives are to provide opportunity to take stock of achievements and challenges in addressing global targets on water and to provide opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to the dialogue on water.
