Africa in particular its sub Saharan part, is one of the most affected areas in the world regarding food insecurity (Africa 2014 report on hunger, IFPRI). The agricultural sector which food security and poverty reduction depends very much on in Africa is likely to be affected by climate change if no action is taken. It is against that background that The Global Water Partnership Southern Africa held national consultations on water and food in Malawi and Lesotho on the 21st of April 2016.
GWP China has launched a new bilingual website, offering the latest GWP news from the region. Now all 13 GWP Regional Water Partnership websites share the same platform and branding.
An important facet of the work of the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) is to generate and communicate knowledge. We specifically encourage and support young people to be fully engaged in learning and sharing knowledge on water security and related issues.
The implementation committee of the youth project in Togo organized a press conference on Tuesday, October 27 to introduce the National White Paper. The event took place in the presence of representatives of the government, development partners, youth organizations and the media. It was an opportunity to initiate other actions, particularly with the Delegation of the European Union in Togo to support the dissemination of the white paper after the COY11.
GWP held a press briefing at the UNFCCC COP20 conference in Lima, Peru, on Tuesday 9 December. The delegates reiterated the GWP network’s firm support of a dedicated water goal on the post-2015 development agenda. The Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP) was highlighted as an important tool to combat water related problems in connection with climate change.
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.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Global Water Partnership South Asia (GWP SAS) will be jointly organising ‘Climate Services User Forum (CSUF 27 and 28 April 2016) for the Water Sector in South Asia’ in association with WMO’s South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF-8) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
On May 13, 2016, the MoU was signed between GWP China and other three Asian Regional Water Partnerships under the witness of all GWP family members in Stockholm, Sweden.
Caribbean countries face a number of challenges in maintaining adequate supplies of water for their populations. Challenges range from low annual rainfall levels to inadequate storage, polluted water sources, and poor management of existing water resources.