GWPSA will participate in a panel discussion and make a presentation on “Sharing of experiences on successful Water Conservation and Demand Management Programmes in other countries”. The discussion is a part of the sector policy dialogue on Water Conservation and Water Demand Management (WDM) that will be hosted by the Policy Unit under the Department of Water Services, South Africa, and will be held on Wednesday 16th March, 2016 in Pretoria.
Global Water Partnership (GWP) celebrates its 20th anniversary at a time when the global development agenda is at a turning point. Following the recently adopted 2030 Agenda in 2015, a new animation video has been released to show GWP’s response to the world’s water challenges: partnership and cross-sector collaboration are key.
Zhang River runs through Shanxi Province, Hebei Province and Henan Province as the border of Hebei and Henan Provinces. Within the basin, there is a large population but inadequate water and land resources. The residents of the villages along the river only have a small amount of valley terraces and flood land barely meeting their survival demand.
Caribbean countries face a number of challenges in maintaining adequate supplies of water for their populations. Challenges range from low annual rainfall levels to inadequate storage, polluted water sources, and poor management of existing water resources.
Mr Iswer Raj Onta, Regional Chair Global Water Partnership South Asia (GWP SAS) (2013-2015), passed away on Sunday, 6 March 2016. The entire GWP Network is saddened by his departure and it is a great loss to the South Asia Region.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day (8 March), We have interviewed Mrs Hadja KORA ZAKI Mariame, the Chair of the National Association of users of the natural resources of the River Niger Basin in Benin (ANU-Benin) in the department of Atacora in the Northwest of the country.
My name is Nompumelelo Ntshalintshali, Principal Water Development Analyst at the Department of Water Affairs in Lesotho. I am active in coordination and regulation within the water sector and have held various positions such as Chairperson of the National WASH Forum, Monitoring and Evaluation Focal person for the Africa Minister’s Council on Water.
The main challenge I face in my work is the realisation that I work in a male dominated environment. For me, meeting that challenge entails having a positive attitude – and that goes a long way. I have also discovered that sticking to my principles and maintaining a good work ethic helps me prove that I can make it.
My advice to women (and men) as we commemorate this day together is “keep focused, keep going, and keep your integrity!”
Tell us something about yourself?
My name is Manta Devi Nowbuth, from Mauritius and I am the Dean in the Faculty of Ocean Studies at the University of Mauritius.
What would you say are the main challenges in your work as a woman?
As a woman at work, I have often noted that my suggestions are subject to relatively more queries before they are accepted, and also when a responsibility is given to a woman, expectations tend to be relatively very high.
What have you done to overcome these obstacles/challenges?
I would say that women have the added advantage of being more understanding and patient, so these skills help to bring the harmony much needed in a working environment.
Advise to other women in similar situations (in the water world)
My own career in the water world has been highly enriching and I wish all women working in the water sector the same rewarding experience.
Name: Maria Amakali
Occupation: Director of Water Resources Management
Country: Namibia
Country of Work: Namibia and SADC
What would you say are the main challenges in your work as a woman?
I started working as hydrologist in the Department of Water Affairs in the early nineties. I had studied in the US and was ready to come and work in a newly independent Namibia. My responsibilities included planning and execution of research and investigations regarding sustainable development of water resources; and providing advice on the effective utilization, protection and conservation of such resources. At a time I found a lot of males, in the department. Except for the two women scientist in Hydrology Division, most women were doing mostly secretarial or office administrative work. I remember one day standing outside, waiting for my ride home and this man came to me asking whose secretary I was. In an independent Namibia, I was quite shocked that the old stereotype mentality that women can only be secretaries still exists. Those days there were not many women or black hydrologists, but I was still offended.