In Burkina Faso the first version of the 'Preparatory report on national consultations on water and food security" is completed. The national sharing and validation workshop is planned for late August 2015. The Country Water Partnership is discussing with the appropriate Ministry for the joint organization of the workshop.
In Mali the National Consultation Workshop on Water and Food Security in Mali, led by CWP MALI has already been organized. A follow up meeting for the ownership of the content of the report is scheduled with the Ministry for Food Security and a number of technical services in Mali to make sure the country has a contribution to the next CSA meeting in Rome.
The Global Water Partnership West Africa Secretariat has validated the document on the monitoring and planning of activities of the project intitled "Water for growth and poverty reduction in the Mekrou transboundary river basin" or Mekrou Project.
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.
GWP-Med, along with partner organisation Lions' Club, is coordinating a national campaign in Tunisian primary schools for awareness raising with regards to water scarcity and the importance of water saving, during the month of February. The campaign is called ÔVI (eau=vie / water=life) and is taking place within the framework of the activity "La Jeunesse Francophone pour l'eau" [Francophone Youth for Water], jointly held by the Global Water Partnership (GWP) and the Office Franco-Québécois pour la Jeunesse (OFQJ), as well as the BeWater Project and the work it does on raising the Tunisian youth's voice on water resources management.
The Ghana Country Water Partnership under ict Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP) HAS Organised the 2nd module of the capacity building program titled "Identify and Appraise Options." This training Took Place in the Upper-East Region from July 21st -24th, 2014 at the conference room of Ex-Tee Crystal Hotel in Bolgatanga.
GWPEA in collaboration with CapNet and Uganda National Water and Sewage Corporation organized a five days training for Young Water Professionals on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and Climate change
In 2014 GWP Philippines carried out advocacy work to promote Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), targeting the youth and local government officials and other concerned stakeholders.
Towards a more active youth role in water resources management and climate change adaptation.
As part of the efforts to strengthen the management of the Ghana Country Water Partnership secretariat to develop a strong presence in the water sector, a reference center has been created at the secretariat.