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Changing the behaviour of water users towards more sustainable practices is a necessary step in achieving water security. One way to promote such change is through economic instruments. Economic incentives involve the use of prices and other market-based measures to improve the way water is managed and used. They provide incentives to water users to use water carefully, efficiently, and in a manner consistent with the public interest. They have both positive and negative effects, rewarding users that recognise the true value of water and penalising profligate and anti-social use.

GWP Myanmar (MmWP) held an open discussion on the needs of water cooperation among water users on 8 November. The aim was to help shape the water resources management in the region.

As part of GWP’s programme to introduce its knowledge database, the IWRM Toolbox, into relevant university curricula, two workshops were held in China in September.

The conclusions of a second round of national stakeholder consultations on water urge the global community to include a dedicated water goal within the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.

GWP Chair Dr. Ursula Schaefer-Preuss took part in a Special Event hosted by the President of the UN General Assembly in New York on 25 September. The aim was to follow up on the efforts made to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to discuss the post-2015 agenda.

The Swaziland Country Water Partnership (SZCWP) was launched in 2004 to support the IWRM Plan development (2008) and more generally to provide a platform for stakeholder driven water management.

The Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP) is a joint initiative of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Global Water Partnership.

GWP Armenia and GWP Turkmenistan have conducted several projects focused on schools. The purpose is to engage more young people in water resources management.

Guizhou already experiences the effects of climate change, including droughts. Action was taken with the approval of a new policy document which provides funds supporting water quality improvements, water and soil conservation, ecosystem rehabilitation, irrigation, and managing increasing demand. Steps have also been taken for preventive actions for subsequent droughts. The most important lesson that can be learnt is that the greatest challenge to building resilience to droughts is institutional. 

The Yangtze River Basin has been severely affected by climate change. To address this, the Yangtze River Basin Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Report has been drafted to evaluate the impact on representative ecosystems and water resources, and pinpoint adaptation strategies. The experience has demonstrated that good adaptation measures should consider not only climate itself, but also other factors, such as economy, technology, as well as social and cultural norms.