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.
My name is Celine Pole Sikulisimwa, a Congolese senior lecturer at the University of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. My field of specialization is water science and technology.
My full names are Mrs. Bogadi Theresa Mathangwane, National Deputy Director responsible for Water Resources planning, development and management in Botswana. I am an International Water Resource Management expert and active in promoting water conservation and water demand management measures and practices thus promoting water use efficiency in the country. I possess broad background in social, economic, environmental and technical aspects of water resources.
Bienvenue GBELO wins the 2015 GWP-CAf Media award on “water and climate change”.
Bienvenue GBELO, a journalist reporter for Radio Ndeke Luka in Bangui, Central African Republic wins the Global Water Partnership-Central Africa Media Award on “Water and Climate change” 2015. As winner of media competition launched by GWP-CAf on February 1st 2015, he was awarded a certificate, a recorder and cash prize of 500 euros.
Bienvenue’s submission was based on the theme “Drinking water still a rare commodity in Bangui.” The press article looked specifically at water shortage phenomena in the capital city and dryness of certain streams in the neighbourhood/surrounding villages.
GWP-Med provides technical assistance to the UfM secretariat that coordinates/supports the drafting procedure of a roadmap and associated work plan for the work of the WEG.
The largest inner delta area with an almost natural status left in the entire Upper Danube Valley rests in the Szigetköz Region, Hungary. The Danube’s natural landscape in this area was characterized by continuously changing dead branches and side arms, beds changing their location, deteriorating and building islands and alluvial cones. As a result, the ecological environment and human settlements of the area were consistently destabilized. In 2011, the North-Transdanubian Water Directorate (EDUVIZIG) started a water infrastructure project entitled the “Ecological development of water supply system in the protected site and floodplain areas of Szigetköz”. This project shares valuable experience on how to restore the natural ecosystem while securing provision of drinking water and irrigation and enhancing flood protection mechanisms.