Organised by SIWI, World Water Week 2024 aims to highlight water cooperation, for peace and security in its broadest sense. GWP and its network will co-convene, support and take part in various activities, both within the formal agenda of the Week but also side-events and other conversations outside the venue.
Over 80 participants representing African Union Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have been trained in tracking and reporting water investments using the AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard, a key tool under the African Union’s Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP).
Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe, as a partner of the EU Horizon 2020 OPTAIN project, organized its 2023 Summer School for 21 selected MSc and PhD students and graduates, working in the field of water management. The selected students represented the countries of Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Iran, Kosovo, Lithuania, Norway, Philippines, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
Today, the United Nations has released its "World Water Development Report 2025", focusing on the critical role of mountains and glaciers as the planet’s "water towers." The report highlights the alarming challenges facing these vital ecosystems, which supply freshwater to billions of people worldwide.
Growing populations and climatic impacts are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources. This is true of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region which comprises 16 Member States, whose population in 2018, was estimated to be at 345.2 million, a rise from 336.9 million as of 2017. Rivers play a pivotal role in the region's socio-economic development, as evidenced by its reliance on these waterways. Southern Africa boasts of 15 major transboundary river basins, shared among neighbouring countries, with 13 basins entirely within the region's borders. However, the equitable distribution of water resources remains a challenge, exacerbated by climatic factors influencing rainfall patterns and the geographical distribution of river basins. While these rivers can spark conflicts, they also serve as conduits for peace and cooperation. Therefore, prioritizing transboundary water cooperation is not merely about economic prosperity but also essential for nurturing stability and harmony throughout the region.
