In preparation for the new Water Law in Bulgaria, as well as the EU Water Framework Directive, the watershed council was set up as a pilot to test on-site effective and participatory approaches to river resource management in the Varbitsa River. The key lesson drawn is that participatory, open, citizen-friendly and bottom-up approaches are more efficient than top-down administrative approaches.
The Veluwe Randmeren lakes in the Netherlands were negatively affected by the discharge of phosphates and nitrates from agriculture and household use. Furthermore, increase in population pressure posed further challenges. To address these issues, a group consisting of national and local authorities undertook a project, which gradually increased the water quality. The case study demonstrates the importance of allowing integration among stakeholder groups.
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.
Following a decision to decentralise water and wastewater services, many questions regarding the sustainable financing of water and waste services was raised. Recognising that economic and financial conditions are critical to the effectiveness of various tariff and effluent charge reforms, a financial model (ASTEC) was devised. This case demonstrates the value of using economic instruments to support the implementation of IWRM management objectives.
Around 100 participants, representing 50 different organizations around Nigeria, attended the General Assembly of Partners of the Country Water Partnership of Nigeria held on 14 February 2013. The General Assembly was opened by the Minister of Water Resources Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, also co-Chair of AMCOW for West Africa, who urged GWP Nigeria to strengthen and expand their activities towards achieving adequate management of water resource in the country.
China is faced with significant costs regarding floods and degradation of ecological conditions in the Yangtze River basin. As a response, the application of Ecosystem Function Conservation Areas approach has been initiated not only to increase water retention capacity and reduce sediment loads, but also to provide benefits in biodiversity, carbon sequestration and sustainable land management. The key lesson is that success is easier to achieve with positive natural and political conditions.
The San Juan River waters have experienced deterioration due to poor management of its basin. To address the issues, action has been taken to implement IWRM to address the areas of water, soil, forests and municipal development in a cross-sectoral manner. This case study is a good reminder of the integrated nature of IWRM, and the importance of a model that accounts for management of both water and land.
March 28, 2014, the Chinese Academy of Engineering organized the "Session on the Progress Report of the Programme on Collection of China’s Response Strategies of Drought and Flood” in Beijing. The participants were from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Civil Affairs, China Meteorological Administration, and other organizations, around 60 people in total attending the meeting.
Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LBVC) and GWP Eastern Africa discussed strategic areas of cooperation as the two institutions share a lot in water resources management in Eastern Africa region.
The first West African Sub Regional Water Integrity Capacity-Building Workshop for Ghana and Sierra Leone was held at the Mirage Royale Hotel, East Legon, Accra, Ghana from 08th to 12th April 2013 was successful as it trained 29 participants on water integrity.