New impetus has been given to GWP’s relationship with the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) in light of the African Union summit held in Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt), in June 2008.
GWP Ethiopia launched pilot projects in the Berki and Messena watersheds to promote IWRM, establish a framework for broader stakeholder participation, and enhance grassrootslevel water management practices.
During 2008, GWP Mediterranean (GWP-Med) helped Egypt and Lebanon with their water supply and sanitation (WSS) and IWRM planning respectively. The assistance was provided within the framework of the Mediterranean Component of the EU Water Initiative (MED EUWI), through country dialogues on water, and with support of the MEDA Water Programme of the European Commission and Greece that leads MED EUWI.
At a regional meeting of the Uzbekistan Central Asia and South Caucasus Water Utilities Network (CASCWUN), held in Tashkent in March 2008, representatives of 14 water utilities from seven CACENA countries signed an agreement on the network’s statutes and a programme of joint activities for 2008–2009.
The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) issued a news release in September to announce the scientific results of the Joint Danube Survey 2 (JDS2) –“possibly the world’s biggest river research expedition ever.” The survey indicates that “the Danube and its tributaries are becoming cleaner,” said the release.
The value of collaboration and partnership in addressing the water concerns that abound in the region was highlighted at the third Southeast Asia Water Form held on October 22-26, 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
International Danube Day celebrates cultures and cooperation June 29, 2007. The rich and varied history and traditions of the countries sharing the Danube River Basin will be at the heart of festivities marking the fourth annual International Danube Day (June 29).
Community preparedness and public participation for flash flood management in Europe