In 2004, action was taken to address some major challenges in Ethiopia through the Ethiopia Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Movement. The objectives were to promote improved water, sanitation and hygiene practices and gain political and social commitment. The initiative has enjoyed great success. Lessons learnt include the importance of defining responsibilities and obligations of members, the importance of appointing local staff that facilitates the communication, and the importance of regular funding.
In the run up to the World Water Day 2016, GWP-CAf partners, like Cameroon Ministry of water and energy, private sector, NGOs and civil society organizations, organized the national water week 2016, in Yaoundé, which had as theme “water and jobs” and took place over seven days, from March 17-22, 2016.
Several events took place during the national week. Among which, there was a media workshop; two site visits, conducted, one to the wastewater treatment plant and the other to water treatment plant; a campaign for the dissemination of knowledge and legal text on water sector and sanitation; an exhibition fair; football and power walking and a forum on water jobs. All of these activities ended with a competition for a best poem written and cartoon on “water and jobs” for pupils of 5 schools in Yaounde.
Given the importance of WRCC in coordinating water resource management in West Africa in particular and that of ECOWAS generally politically and economically, and because of the many joint initiatives underway, GWP / WA met with the Director of WRCC, Ibrahim Babatunde WILSON. The GWP delegation led by its Chair, Prof. Afouda, included the Executive Secretary and the Mekrou and IDMP projects officers.
The two organizations raised a number of initiatives underway at GWP / WA of which WRCC is an integral part, including the Mekrou project, IDMP, or those in which the WRCC should take the lead like the initiative on the regional dialogue on the joint management of shared aquifers in West Africa.
The following documents are supporting references to the Water & Food Security workshop held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 18-19 May 2016.
The Country Water Partnership of Benin held on Friday 26 February 2016 the meeting of its Boards. The context is marked by a drastic reduction of finances due to the suspension of the funding of the Pluriannual support programme to the water and sanitation sector and the IWRM institutionnal progression in Benin.
Following the SADC Water Week Conference held at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe, Malawi from the 13-15 May, 2015, the Malawi National Youth Water Network (MNYWN) was formed on the 14th of May, 2015. The setting up of the Network was in line with the SADC program for the African Minister’s Council on Water (AMCOW) Policy and Strategy on Mainstreaming Youth in the Water and Sanitation Sector through the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Water Aid and Malawi Water Partnership.