The African continent has the highest number of transboundary river basins that collectively cover 64% of Africa’s surface area and contain just over 93% of its surface water resources. These rivers are shared between many countries. While a common water resource is a potential source of conflict, it also has tremendous potential as a driver for economic growth on the African continent where, for example, less than 4% of the available water is utilised, and less than 7% of the hydropower potential is realised.
GWP-SEA further operates through relations with accredited Country Water Partnerships (CWP), and other separate co-operating entities that have been given a role in the Regional Water Partnership (RWP) in accordance with GWP-SEA Statute.
Home to a quarter of the world’s population, South Asia is endowed with vast water resources with potential for high economic development. However spatial and temporal factors in distribution subject the region to water related disasters such as droughts, floods and storm surges, which are increasingly compounded by climate change and global warming.
Read the Newslines and Briefing Notes for an in-depth look into the activities of GWP South Asia and its Country Water Partnerships
Newslines
To raise awareness on sustainable water management in the Caribbean, and to commemorate the United Nations’ World Water Day (WWD) 2012 which is celebrated on March 22nd each year, GWP-C has established its first Media Awards on Water. The Awards aim to inspire Caribbean journalists to report more on regional water issues.
On 25 April, GWP Rwanda took a first step to implement the Water Resources Management (WRM) Strategy of Rwanda by holding a workshop, jointly organized with the Netherlands Development Organization under the theme: "Towards IWRM through collaboration and partnerships between all actors at all levels".
Central America has 120 major river basins, of which 23 (36 percent of the regional territory) are shared. In June 2010, GWP Central America and Zamorano International University, Honduras, organised a regional training workshop on how to apply economic and financial instruments such as tariffs, taxes and transfers in shared basins, some of which cross national borders.
The Menik Ganga Area Water Partnership (AWP) together with local and temple authorities, local traders and youth groups helped protect water supplies during the one-week Sella Kataragama festival in July.