On Wednesday, 5 April 2023, His Excellency Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, formally received the Global Water Changemakers Award which had been presented to him in absentia during the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York.
The governments of Angola and Namibia have officially endorsed and kickstarted the implementation of a joint transboundary water project titled "Enhanced Water Security and Community Resilience in the Adjacent Cuvelai and Kunene Transboundary River Basins." This initiative aims to address the pressing challenges of water scarcity, floods, and droughts in the Cuvelai and Kunene River Basins.
GWP-Med in partnership with the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) led activities in Palestine for the GWL Programme, a global initiative supporting emerging leadership for improved water, sanitation and hygiene services, and climate resilience. GWL was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Experts from Member States, Transboundary Basin Organizations and Regional Organizations work together to build capacity and define strategic and operational actions to be implemented.
Growing populations and climatic impacts are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources. This is true of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region which comprises 16 Member States, whose population in 2018, was estimated to be at 345.2 million, a rise from 336.9 million as of 2017. Rivers play a pivotal role in the region's socio-economic development, as evidenced by its reliance on these waterways. Southern Africa boasts of 15 major transboundary river basins, shared among neighbouring countries, with 13 basins entirely within the region's borders. However, the equitable distribution of water resources remains a challenge, exacerbated by climatic factors influencing rainfall patterns and the geographical distribution of river basins. While these rivers can spark conflicts, they also serve as conduits for peace and cooperation. Therefore, prioritizing transboundary water cooperation is not merely about economic prosperity but also essential for nurturing stability and harmony throughout the region.
Chengdu, China | 15–23 May 2025 — Against rising global concern over climate-induced infrastructure challenges, the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) held its 93rd General Assembly and 26th Congress was held. The event gathered over a thousand global experts, policymakers, engineers, and practitioners to examine the future of water infrastructure in an increasingly unpredictable world.
The Regional Initiative for Water and Sanitation in the Mono cross-border basin (RIWE-Mono) aims to restore ecosystems, improve the living conditions of people living along the river and promote concerted, sustainable management of natural resources, while strengthening cross-border cooperation between the two countries (Benin and Togo) that share this watercourse.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the Volta Basin Authority (VBA) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP) West Africa have implemented the VFDM project entitled "Integrating flood and drought management and early warning for climate change adaptation in the Volta Basin" from June 2019 to June 2024. This project is financed by the Adaptation Fund.
