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The Mediterranean is a region rich in history but poor in water resources. The dry landscape led ancient civilisations to seek alternative resources to supply water in their communities. Local wisdom prompted the construction of cisterns to collect rainwater. Rain harvesting is a simple yet revolutionary idea, as it is a cost-efficient practice utilising a sustainable non conventional water source, embodying recycling and reuse principles. Translating traditional practices into modern solutions to address water scarcity was the starting point of the Non Conventional Water Resources Programme in the Mediterranean in 2008.

Interview with Mrs Asli Duale, founding Chair of WEAVE – Women Education and Voicing Entrepreneurship – a Somali NGO set up in 2008 in Mogadishu. 

On March 27th, 2018, the Winward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF) became the new Host Institution (HI) of the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C). Established in 1994, WINDREF is an independent non-profit organisation based at the St. George’s University (SGU) in Grenada. The organisation works to advance health and environmental development through multi-disciplinary research and education programmes. It also promotes regional and international collaborative relationships.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2nd February to raise global awareness about the value of wetlands for humanity and the planet. It also marks the date of adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar. "Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future" is the theme for World Wetlands Day 2018.

The International Secretariat for Water (ISW), Eau Vive International in collaboration with GWP WA and other partners have organized a training on the topic “New ideas for a better sharing of resources”.

GWP delegates are taking part in the UN Climate Change Conference COP22, 7-18 November in Marrakech, Morocco. The objective is to promote support for the implementation of the Paris Agreement, in connection to water and climate change adaptation. The Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016.

Earlier in 2017 a newly established Youth Water Community Central and Eastern Europe started a project about the reduction of plastic pollution in the river Ishmi in Albania. The project’s first activity was a workshop with local students that took place on 5 December at the Agricultural University of Tirana.

A new guidance document has been developed to support the design of well-balanced strategies for Integrated Flood Management. “This guidance document serves as the operational link between the policy and tool papers previously published by the Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM),” said Johannes Cullman, Director of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Climate and Water Department.

This article is part of a wider coverage of the “MENA Focus” events, a set of four regional sessions dedicated to the Middle East & North Africa, officially launched at the Stockholm World Water Week 2016, alongside the Regional Days for Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med) had been selected and serves as the overall coordinator for these “MENA Focus” events. The sessions were organized in partnership with a number of international regional institutions and organisations. “Strengthening Water Governance through Integrity and Sustainable Financing” was the second out of the four sessions, held on the 30th of August.