GWP organised a workshop in partnership with Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, on 5-6 December. The aim was to explore educational needs and find out how GWP’s IWRM ToolBox can benefit present and future water managers in Eastern Africa.
Oil-shale mining and oil-shale based electricity production has caused serious damage to ground and surface water in the Viru-Peipsi catchment area in Estonia. Action was taken to enhance the protection of the water resources through a project that set out a management plan. The project included data collection, monitoring and capacity building. Due to the success of this project, it can be used as an example for future developments.
The area around Lake Moyua is experiencing severe soil degradation resulting from inappropriate agricultural practices. To reverse and control the degradation process, an IWRM Plan is implemented. By involving the communities, the aim is to restore the soil, the hydrological systems, forests and biodiversity, as well as the harmonisation of policies and implementation of management regulations. This case study consequently demonstrates the value of a bottom-up approach.
The Kumbo water supply system has always had contested ownership claims. After decades of protest, action was taken and management was transferred to Kumbo Urban Council, resulting in the establishment of an inclusive and participatory community water governance structure. From this, the lesson can be learnt that the command and control paradigm can provoke social and political instability. The case also demonstrates how community based platforms can enhance community mobilisation and participatory governance.
GWP’s Water, Climate and Development Programme for Africa (WACDEP), in collaboration with the UNDP-UNEP led National Adaptation Plan Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP) recently arranged a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop. The topic was the ‘Economics of Adaptation Water Security, and Climate Resilient Development’.
The Volta River basin remained one of the few unregulated transboundary watercourses in Africa. Action was taken to improve water governance and water management practices. Although this is still in progress, it has resulted in multi-scale participatory governance frameworks for joint management. From this process, it is evident that building a local knowledge base with good data and information systems is important in deciding the most efficient allocation of resources.
The management of water resources in Bangladesh involves a centralised, heavy engineering approach in order to control floods and install irrigation, however, there is now a pressing need for ensuring social justice and equity in water resource development. Recognising the role of water in poverty alleviation, action has been taken to implement a 25-year National Water Management Plan. Although this is one important step, it is evident that many issues require more work.
The Global Water Partnership will cooperate with McGill University in Canada on an IWRM online course by providing knowledge resources on all aspects related to IWRM including Water Resources Planning and Water Governance, Law and Policy through its knowledge platform the IWRM Toolbox.
GWP Hungary is campaigning for World Water Forum 6 Local Authorities’ Process which will highlight their major role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP) Training of Trainers (ToT) on ‘Economics of Adaptation, Water Security and Climate Resilient Development in Africa’ - Contribution to national adaptation plan Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP) – will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 25th to 29th November 2013.