The objective of World Water Day on 22 March 2011 is to focus international attention on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water systems. This year’s theme, Water for cities: responding to the urban challenge, aims to spotlight and encourage governments, organizations, communities, and individuals to actively engage in addressing the challenges of urban water management.
GWP Eastern Africa promoted the participation of Sudan Water Partnership national coordinator and member into a Young Water Professionals conference on the 11th, 12th and 13th of December in Kampala, Uganda, an event that was organized by International Water Association/African Water Association /National Water Sewage Corporation of Uganda conference.
The 4th International Ecopolis Forum, sponsored by International Council on Ecopolis Development and Chengde Municipal Government, Hebei Province, China and organized by Ecological Society of China and Chengde Environmental Protection Agency, was held on August 17~20, 2010 in Chengde with over 200 participants from different countries of the world, GWP China is one of the supporters of this forum and Mr. Zheng Rugang, Coordinator, GWP China, was invited to participate.
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximise economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems and the environment.
A USAID project to develop a regional economic model for the integrated use of Aral Sea basin water resources was granted to a consortium of DHI, COWI and GWP Central Asia and Caucasus (GWP CACENA), with GWP CACENA being asked to coordinate the project. A working meeting was held on 7-9 December 2011 to elaborate specific assignments for national experts from five countries.
“This Partnership is very important and its implementation should support Gambia in the sustainable management of its water resources ... The government and my department will provide all necessary support to do so,” said Mrs Fatou Sosseh Jallow, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Minister in charge of water of the Gambia at the official ceremony establishing GWP Gambia on 20 December 2011.
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.
The Central and Eastern Europe region of the Global Water Partnership (GWP CEE) has called for pollution prevention and the regular inspection of polluter operations in light of the toxic sludge disaster in Hungary.