For many businesses, issues of water scarcity are becoming increasingly relevant to their activities, manifested as increased costs or difficulties to obtain water as users compete for rights. To understand water dependencies in time and space, many companies apply the measure of water footprint, estimating water use throughout the value chain. Using this measure can give important insights into variation between countries in terms of how much of the water relates to production.
A Framework for Water Security and Climate Resilient Development developed by AMCOW and the AU to provide an approach for developing no/low regret investments will be introduced to the global audience. Focus will also be on the application of the Framework in African development cooperation for climate resilient development.
The Water, Climate and Development Programme in South America has been developed to support the integration of water security and adaptation to climate change into development planning processes and investment, promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) as a key strategy.
GWP Executive Secretary Dr. Ania Grobicki participated in the second Global Soil Week at the end of October. She reaffirmed GWP’s support to the Global Soil Partnership and discussed the role of soils in the Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus.
A presentation on Gender Mainstreaming in the SADC Water Sector was made during the 6th RBO workshop held on 15-17 October, 2014 at Birchwood Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. GWP SA has facilitated the organization of the RBO workshops, which are aimed at enhancing and building the ability of the RBOs to prepare, respond and recover from water related impacts (flood and droughts) and build resilience to climate change within the RBOs through all aspects, including gender mainstreaming.
A GWP delegation participated at the High-Level International Conference on Water Cooperation in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, which took place on 20-21 August. GWP Executive Secretary Dr. Ania Grobicki said the event was a historic opportunity to rethink water.
The Khimti 1 Hydropower Project was initiated to increase hydropower supply in Nepal. Action was taken to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment to identify promotion of livelihood, economic enhancement and social well being of the project area communities. The project formulated an Environmental Monitoring Plan as well as environmental mitigation and monitoring programme. The key lesson to learn is the importance of assessment prior to the development of any project.