Comment by Alex Simalabwi, Global Water Partnership Senior Network Officer and Climate Change Focal Point.
The development of hydropower in the Mekong River basin can bring great economic opportunities for Laos. However, since this basin is shared with neighbouring countries, cooperation is crucial. Action was taken and the Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin was signed to coordinate the use of these resources for economic development. For Laos, this has been crucial to their success in regards to the MDGs.
For centuries the Upper Guadiana Basin has been irrigated with groundwater, resulting in a drop in the water table of more than 20 meters. Actions were taken to address this issue, including regulations restricting aquifer abstraction and economic incentives to encourage farmers to improve irrigation efficiency and plant alternative crops. The key lesson learnt is that surface and underground waters cannot be managed separately.
The Five Year (2014-2018) Strategic Plan for Burundi Water Partnership was presented to development partners on 25 September, 2014 in Bujumbura. The conference that was opened by the Assistant to the Minister in charge of water (MEEATU) aimed to create a platform to raise funds for the implementation of activities contained in the different project proposals of the strategic plan for water resource management and climate resilience.
The Weihe River plays a central role in Shaanxi. However, rapid economic development has created many problems, including increased water scarcity, pollution and regional ecological environment deterioration. As a response, the Weihe River Basin Integrated Management Plan was developed based on the principles and approaches of IWRM, with the participation of many sectors. The significance of this case is the promotion of public participation and gradual improvement of the market economy system.
The Detailed Assessment on the Capacity Building Needs in Mozambique (GWP, 2013) states that Mozambique is extremely vulnerable to climate related disaster such as floods, droughts and cyclones, with a recurrence frequency estimated at 1.67, meaning at-least one event occurs every year. Mozambique is also amongst the most affected countries by “large scale” natural disasters in the world. There is a great need therefore to build capacities in managing climate change. To address that need, the Global Water Partnership’s Water, Climate, and Development Programme (WACDEP) for Mozambique was formally introduced through a capacity building awareness workshop at a launch that was held in Maputo, Mozambique on the 18th March 2014.
GWP Eastern Africa draws its annual action plans from GWP’s priorities as reflected in the strategy and local contexts and needs. Aligning global water and climate resilience aspirations as reflected in GWP’s strategic goals with regional, national and local needs through vertical and horizontal consultations (policy dialogue & community meetings) ensures effectiveness, responsiveness and coherence in terms of desired change in water resource resources management policies, practices and mindset at all levels.
The Planning meeting on Model Capacity Training Program organized by GWP CACENA jointly with World Bank was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on October 15-17, 2014.