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Today, in celebration of the International Francophonie Day, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Secretary-General of the Organisation international de la Francophonie (OIF), encourages francophone youth to get engaged and learn about a series of youth consultations on water and climate change that OIF has launched in preparation for the 21^st Session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21).

Climate change effects, including more extreme phenomena like droughts and floods, are likely to exacerbate the situation, both in the south and north of the Mediterranean. Adaptation measures require effective water resources management. Given that several climate-related aspects remain uncertain, ‘no-regret’ actions present a sustainable way for responding to challenges. Furthermore, aiming at adaptation-mitigation co-benefits through interlinking water, land, energy and environment interventions, could provide tangible solutions and promote innovation in the region.

A media training targeting local journalists who report on environmental, water and climate change issues was undertaken at Rainbow Towers in Harare, Zimbabwe on the 17^th of March 2015. The media training forms part of the programme on the SADC Water Weeks which will be held in each of the 15 SADC member states spearheaded by the SADC Water Sector under the auspices of the Infrastructure and Services Directorate. The National Water Weeks, running under the theme “From Vision to Action” are supporting SADC to have a platform in interacting with member states on water resources management strategic issues. The Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWP SA) is playing a role in providing support in undertaking this initiative. GWPSA has partnered with the Inter Press Service (IPS) Africa in conducting the media trainings.

Gaborone, 11th March 2015

The Water Sector of the Southern African Development (SADC) today begins holding of three-day-long SADC National Water Weeks in each Member State to gather input towards the formulation of the fourth phase of the Regional Water Programme.

Stemming from the realisation of the inherent linkages between governance and the mobilisation of financial resources for the water sector, the aim of the Governance & Financing for the Mediterranean Water Sector Project has been to diagnose related bottlenecks and identify plausible and realistic recommendations to help overcome them.

The Executive Secretary during his stay in Dakar met with the new chair of the Senegal CWP, Mr. Antoine Diokel THIAW and cangratulated him for his designation as chair. They had discussions on the future actions of the CWP. The Steering and Scientific Committees are yet to be established and an invitation will be sent to partners for a meeting to establish these bodies. Project templates will be developed in order to link with on going initiatives in the country and allow the CWP’s functioning.

 

GWP West Africa took part in the fourth (4th) meeting of the Sahel Irrigation Initiative Programme (SIIP) which is Worlb Bank funded initiative supported by the Permanent Inter-State committee to fight Drought in the Sahel (CILSS). The meeting took place on 3 to 5 February 2015 in Dakar, Senegal. GWP is a member of the task force and the topics for discussion of this 4th meeting were important for GWP's participation.

A validation workshop was held on 19 and 20 February 2015 in Niamey, Niger for the validation of three studies carried out in December 2014. The first one was on the national consultation on the objectives and methodology of the Mekrou project, the second one on the institutional participatory diagnosis and the third one on the assessment of existing capacities and the needs for capacity building for knowlegde management organizations in the country.

1. Mekrou Project is studying the impact on the W Park
A study is being carried by the Country Water Partnership of Benin to collect ecnomic data on the visitors of the W Park that covers part of the Mekrou Basin. The assessment is initiated by the Joint Research Center (JCR) with the support of GWP West Africa.