Gaborone, 11th March 2015
The Water Sector of the Southern African Development (SADC) today begins holding of three-day-long SADC National Water Weeks in each Member State to gather input towards the formulation of the fourth phase of the Regional Water Programme.
GWP is planning to help some countries for their preparedness to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in September 2015 as a follow up to the MDGs.
Tanzania from 11-13 March kick-starts the Southern African Development Community (SADC) National Consultations to be held in all the 15 SADC member states. The consultations, to be held under the theme “From Vision to Action”, will provide a platform for (SADC) to engage and interact with the various stakeholders in mapping the strategic direction of the regional water resources management, SADC will be undertaking national consultations in the SADC Water Weeks within 15 of the SADC member countries. In each country, the platform will be provided through three main activities (media training, a youth forum and a national consultation). The national consultations are being facilitated by the SADC secretariat and implemented by GWP SA through the Country Water Partnerships (CWPs). Additionally, each consultation is being hosted by the ministry responsible for water in each country.
The elaboration of the study on the "Identification of development priorities in the Mékrou transboundary basin" in each country (Benin, Burkina and Niger) with workshops for the restitution and validation has been delayed because of some practical issues. The contracts were signed with some delay with each consultants and some national issues linked to the political and social situation couldn’t allow work to go on correctly.
Water Security for Development
Water is the key to the world’s ability to cope with climate change. Whether it is food security, poverty reduction, economic growth, energy production or human health – water is the nexus. Climate change is the spoiler. No matter how successful mitigation efforts might be, people will experience the impacts of climate change through water.
GWP is responding to the climate change challenge through the Global Water, Climate and Development Programme that includes a portfolio of programs and projects that aim to build climate resilience through better water management.
Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe (GWP CEE) organized an innovative session on stakeholder involvement in water resource management at European River restoration Conference (ERRC) 2014 in Vienna on 29 October 2014.
The Ghana Country Water Partnership through WACDEP provided technical support to Water Resources Commission to hold a consultative meeting for stakeholders in the White Volta Basin, from 28th to 30th January 2015 at the Ex-Tee Crystal Hotel in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region. The aim of the meeting was to initiate the process to update the basin’s Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Plan after its preparation in 2008 to take into account the emerging issues in the basin, on the one hand, and to use the output as part of the input to the preparation of Investment Plan for the said basin, on the other hand.
On July 8, 2014, the Global Water Partnership China visited the School of Linzhi Agriculture of Tibet University and organized the conference to discuss the issues of water protection and water source management under the climate change.
The 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) took place in Sendai, Japan, 14-18 March. The planned outputs were met, with the announcement of a Declaration and a new Outcome Document to replace the Hyogo Framework for Action; the UN's previous disaster risk reduction deal, which expires in 2015.
From 1-2 September 2014, GWPEA organized in Rubavu, Rwanda a training workshop for 18 journalists from various media outlets.