In 2014 GWP Philippines carried out advocacy work to promote Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), targeting the youth and local government officials and other concerned stakeholders.
- 12 to 14 February 2015: National Forum of water and sanitation in Burkina Faso; theme "permanent access for all to water and sanitation by 2030: Strategies, concrete solutions and commitments of relevant parties";
- February 13, 2015: meeting of the Steering Committee of the IUCN PAGE in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso;
- 18 and 19 February 2015: Meeting of the ECOWAS Technical Committee of IWRM Experts in Lome, Togo;
- February 22 to March 22, 2015: The Great Walk for Water (SOS for Lake Chad);
- 6 to 9 May 2015: Steering Committee and General Assembly of GWP-WA partners in Cotonou, Benin.
A series of activities called The Great Walk for Water initiated by some NGOs will be held from 22 February to 22 March 2015 to draw the World attention on the future "disappearance" of Lake Chad, if nothing is done. This great walk for water is a media caravan, actions and multidisciplinary activities to advocate for an increased attention on the situation of National and International Watercourses in Africa in general and especially the Lake Chad.
The Local Committees for Water (CLE) are basic links of the institutional framework of Integrated Water Resources Management of Burkina Faso.
The restructuring of the North Massili CLE was made in the context of the implementation of the Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP) and in all about ten CLE were set up in 2013 by the Nakanbé Water Agency. The joint diagnosis made during the implementation of the CLE has highlighted a number of shortcomings, including that of weak capacity.
During the year, Vietnam Water Partnership reviewed the existing irrigation management status and plan as well as drafted a proposal for new irrigation management plan. Two key government institutions, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) of Vietnam, are fully supporting the implementation of the activities that are under WACDEP program. Vietnam Water Partnership also coordinated closely with National Focal Point of Vietnam to UNFCCC, which will utilize the results of this program into other program of climate change agenda in the country.
Taking advantage of their presence in Ouagadougou, the GWP WAF chair, Abel AFOUDA and the network officer for West Africa visited with the Executive Secretary some of our partners. In view of getting in touch with the technical and financial partners, a series of meetings were organized.
GWP West Africa took part in the regional workshop to validate the sub regional report on the West African process of the 7th World Water Forum on "Risk and uncertainty management for resilience and preparedness to disasters".
Water Security for Development
Water is the key to the world’s ability to cope with climate change. Whether it is food security, poverty reduction, economic growth, energy production or human health – water is the nexus. Climate change is the spoiler. No matter how successful mitigation efforts might be, people will experience the impacts of climate change through water.
GWP is responding to the climate change challenge through the Global Water, Climate and Development Programme that includes a portfolio of programs and projects that aim to build climate resilience through better water management.
The Integrated Drought Management Project in West Africa (IDMP-WAF) was officially launched at the workshop held on 28 and 29 January 2015 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Forty participants including 4 women, mainly from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, Sweden, Switzerland and representing regional (CILSS, ECOWAS) and international organizations (ACMAD, WMO and GWPO) took part in this meeting placed under the patronage of the Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources, Sanitation and Food Security of Burkina Faso.
In his address to the participants during the official ceremony of the Integrated Drought Management Project in West Africa (IDMP-WAF), the Chair of GWP-WA, Pr. Abel AFOUDA made a vibrant plea inviting organizations represented at the workshop and other regional institutions and governments in the region to add their voice to the GWP in the campaign for a dedicated "Water Goal" in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be adopted in September 2015 on the occasion of the 70th ordinary Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.