Toward water security and climate resilience
Water, the vital source of life, is a cross-cutting resource, water an essential component in building sustainable energy, food and health systems – sustainable livelihoods; yet water lacks recognition among the development sectors and policy makers; it is impossible to reach our vision of a water secure world if we continue to manage water in the future the same way as we do today; we need to stop the fragmentation of its management we need to act now for water for the future: these were some of the points raised at the roundtable the Global Water Partnership organised together with Stockholm International Water Institute at the Swedish Government Stockholm+40 conference on 23-25 April 2012.
The idea of a Regional Climate Outlook Forum (RCOF) originated out of a workshop entitled “Reducing Climate-related Vulnerability” held in Southern Africa in October 1996. Almost a year later, towards the end of 1997, the first RCOF was held in Zimbabwe in Southern Africa where the idea was birthed.
GWP is responding to the climate change challenge through the Global Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP) which includes a portfolio of programmes and projects aiming to build climate resilience through better water management. The WACDEP programmes and projects are developed by GWP Regional Water Partnerships in collaboration with relevant governments and regional economic development communities:
Read the Newslines and Briefing Notes for an in-depth look into the activities of GWP South Asia and its Country Water Partnerships
Newslines
On Saturday, December 3rd, 2011, the African Ministers Council on Water in conjunction with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the Department of Water Affairs South Africa, the Global Water Partnership and Water and Climate Coalition arranged an all-day event on Water, Climate and Development in the River Room at the African Pavilion.
In a breakthrough for water, the 7th African Development Forum held in Addis Ababa in October put water on the infrastructure agenda alongside energy, transport and communications. This marked a turning point in overcoming resistance to large water projects stemming from negative perceptions of social and environmental impacts.
In 2011, GWP Central America published an updated version of the Status of Water Resources in Central America, a compilation of data on water resources in Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. This publication presents advances and challenges in water resources management at country and regional level.