The idea of a Regional Climate Outlook Forum (RCOF) originated out of a workshop entitled “Reducing Climate-related Vulnerability” held in Southern Africa in October 1996. Almost a year later, towards the end of 1997, the first RCOF was held in Zimbabwe in Southern Africa where the idea was birthed.
West Africa now has 12 Country Water Partnerships (CWP). All ECOWAS countries have one except The Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone. In 2009 contacts were established with these countries and strong demand had been expressed to assist in the implementation of the CWP in each country.
GWP India is supporting the Society for the Promotion of Waste Lands Development who, with key partners the Sach-Sach Society and Shramik Bharti, is undertaking a dialogue with community-based organisations across the Ganga River on the need to engage meaningfully with the National Ganga River Basin Authority and the Indian Institute of Technology consortium.
A key part of ensuring that future water practitioners take an integrated approach to managing water resources is to target those training young water professionals. GWP Central America is strengthening its work with universities to provide them with knowledge and information on water resources management. In recent months, Country Water Partnerships and the Regional Secretariat have organized events for the academic community.
In 2010, the Togo Parliament passed a new water law that embraced IWRM principles. Adoption of an IWRM plan to turn words into action is pending. These milestones on the path to better water management were achieved in part as a result of sustained effort by GWP Togo.
Costa Rica has made significant progress in the past decade in expanding access to water supply and sanitation, but the sector still faces challenges in low sanitation connections, poor service quality, and low cost recovery. GWP Costa Rica is organizing workshops as part of a consultation process to be carried out from November 2012 through January 2013 for the elaboration of the Water Agenda 2013-2030.
GWP India is supporting the Society for the Promotion of Waste Lands Development who, with key partners the Sach-Sach Society and Shramik Bharti, is undertaking a dialogue with community-based organisations across the Ganga River on the need to engage meaningfully with the National Ganga River Basin Authority and the Indian Institute of Technology consortium.
On Monday, March 5, the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO) and the Swedish Government signed a new host agreement.
The United Nations has declared 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation. The 2013 World Water Day, on 22 March 2013, is also dedicated to water cooperation.
The African Ministers Council on Water recently (AMCOW) acknowledged the value of its partnership with GWP at their General Assembly in Cairo, Egypt, on May 14, 2012, where the AMCOW Framework for Water Security and Climate Resilient Development was launched. Honourable S.S. Nkomo, Vice President of AMCOW, and Minister of Water Resources and Development, Zimbabwe, said, ‘we have good partners, AMCOW values the partnership with GWP and partners, and hereby welcomes this Framework’. (Photo: 33 water ministers and their representatives witnessed the launch of the Framework.)