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The Indus River is a major transboundary river in Asia with nine tributaries. The River is about 2,800km long, with 2,682 km in Pakistan. The Indus drainage basin covers an area of about 1,140,000 km2 stretching from Afghanistan through China, India, and Pakistan. Monsoonal rains are the most important flood-causing factor in the Indus basin, followed by the size, shape, and land-use of the catchments as well as the conveyance capacity of the corresponding streams. The monsoon rains fall from June to September, and are generally intense and widespread.

In honour of World Water Day, representatives of The Office of the President of Malta, the Energy and Water Agency of Malta, and the Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med), signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the rehabilitation of a rainwater harvesting reservoir at San Anton Palace, in the framework of Alter Aqua programme. The ceremony took place at the Presidential palace in Attard, right by San Anton Gardens where the water reservoir is located, in the presence of the Alter Aqua partners. These include General Soft Drinks Co. Ltd representing Coca-Cola in Malta, as the programme has been financially supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation since 2011.

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.

The 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP21) adopted a new climate agreement in Paris, France, on 12 December. GWP welcomes the landmark agreement, which was signed by nearly 200 countries, and is committed to support it.

The Chair of GWP West Africa, Prof. Abel AFOUDA  accompanied by the Regional Coordinator and Communication took part in the GWP regional days 2015 in Stockholm from 22 to 25 November.   This meeting was an opportunity to review the progress made by the global network in its fields of action and to make projections into the future. GWP and several partners express satisfaction since their efforts to have a water dedicated sustainable development goal come true. Discussions are underway to better position the network of partners in supporting countries to be successful in the implementation of the SDGs as a whole but especially the goal 6 with its different targets. Discussions at the regional days gathered ideas for a better positioning of GWP.

The Executive Secretary, Dam MOGBANTE and the Mekrou Project Manager, Corneille AHOUANSOU met the Executive Secretary of the Niger Basin Authority in Niamey. The meeting aimed at get the NBA to record the Mekrou Project in the agenda of their Ministerial Council to be held at the end of the year for the signature of the Framework and mechanism for cooperation. The NBA ES showed readiness to collaborate with GWP-WAF on various initiatives.

The state of the drought situation in the 3 countries involved in the IDMP / WA continues with documents validation meetings on the review of initiatives in drought in Mali and Niger, and continued data collection in Burkina Faso.

After the validation of roadmaps and the signing of different agreements, the month of June was marked by the start of the investigations by young people from Benin, Burkina Faso and Togo. These actions are carried out with the financial support of GIZ for Benin and financial support of GWP / WA for Burkina Faso and Togo. 

Climate change is intensifying the global water cycle and exposing large segments of the world’s population to significant water-related hazards. These are expected to increase in severity over time.

Mr. Antoine Diokel THIAW was elected Chairperson of the Senegalese Country Water Partnership (CWP) to replace Professor Serigne FAYE. The event occured during the last Partenres' meeting held in Dakar on December 6th, 2014. The regional secretariat was represented by the chair, professor Abel AFOUDA.

In Niger, the CWP held its Partners' meeting on December 13, 2014 in Niamey. Various reports were adopted in addition to 2015 work plan and budget. Participants elected Professor Bouréima OUSMANE as new Chair to replace Dr. Yahaya TOUNKARA. The vice-chair is the General Director of water resources and Mr. HAROUNA Mouminou is in charge of communication and Mrs Halimatou Mamane as the treasurer.

In Burkina Faso, Mr. Dibi MILLOGO was elected as new chair to replace Mr. Dieudonné NIKIEMA. He will be seconded by Mr. Robert NANA as vice chair. The Meeting was held on December 19, 2014.

In Ivory Coast, partners renewed the mandate of Mr. Ndri Koffi as chair during the meeting held on December 18, 2014.

GWP West Africa would like to acknowledge the great contribution of Dr TOUNKARA, Mr. NIKYEMA and Prof. FAYE to the network life.