CamboWP (Cambodia Water Partnership) was executing in 2014 the Project: “4Ps Area acknowledged by the policy makers’ level to support water security policy in the Mekong Basin of Cambodia”, under WACDEP #2: WP 2: National Development and Sector Plans. The project reviewed existing water policies and interventions and supported for an update of them with water security and climate resilience planning and for bringing them into account in the national development planning and decision making processes. The project provided decision makers and policy manager with overview of the basic knowledge and experiences as well as recommendations found by the project that supported them in developing, reviewing and implementing water and related policies, strategies and regulations in the whole country.
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.
From 26 to 31 January 2015, the Chair of GWP-WA, Pr. Abel AFOUDA and the Network Officer for West Africa, Mr. Manuel FULCHIRON were having a working visit at the Regional Secretariat. For the first meeting of the New Year, the Chair expressed his good wishes in the hope that this year will be shining for GWP-WA to support CWP for greater visibility in the countries.
In 2014, GWP Central America with key partners put into place five pilot projects that demonstrate that water security and IWRM are fundamental to adaptation to climate change. Two of the projects are already proving the point.
India Water Week
16 January 2015
New Delhi, India
On the 4th to the 6th of May, 2016, GWPSA contributed to the National Adaptation Plans (NAP) process through its participation in a Training of Trainers workshop in Zimbabwe, with the aim of advancing the Zimbabwe NAP through the NAP Global Support Programme (GSP). The workshop was held in Kadoma, Zimbabwe, and 40 people attended. The participants came from various government departments, which include; Climate Change, Water, Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Local Government and Oxfam.
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.
Like all players in the WASH sector, the Consultation Framework of Non-state actors in the water sector and sanitation (Canea) celebrated World Toilet Day (WTD) on November 19, 2015 through financial support from WSSCC. It was an opportunity to mobilize all stakeholders for a public debate around the effectiveness of the END OPEN AIR defecation (ODF) for better health of the population.