The African continent has the highest number of transboundary river basins that collectively cover 64% of Africa’s surface area and contain just over 93% of its surface water resources. These rivers are shared between many countries. While a common water resource is a potential source of conflict, it also has tremendous potential as a driver for economic growth on the African continent where, for example, less than 4% of the available water is utilised, and less than 7% of the hydropower potential is realised.
Until recently it was rare for water professionals to consider financing issues. Water advocacy and plans were often aspirational – neglecting to show where the money would come from, how activities would be financed or who would pay for them. It was as if finance was somebody else’s problem. Likewise, people from the finance sector have not given great importance to water related issues. However, this situation is changing and finance is becoming an essential topic in water management circles.
The 3rd International Conference “AQUA 2008” on Water Science and Technology with emphasis on water & climate was held on 16 -19 October 2008, Athens, Greece, by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dpt. of Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, the Association of Greek Chemists, the Mediterranean Information Office for the Environment Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE) and the Global Water Partnership - Mediterranean (GWP-Med), under the auspices of the European Association of Chemical and Molecular Sciences (EuCheMS).
21 July 2008, Cairo, Egypt
GWP-Med, with its capacity as the MED EUWI Secretariat, organized a Consultation Event on Household Affordability Assessment of Water Tariffs on 21 July 2008 in Cairo, Egypt, within the framework of the MED EUWI Water Policy Dialogue in Egypt
21-22 July 2008, Athens Greece
The 5th Conference of the Water Directors of the Euro-Mediterranean and South-Eastern European Countries took place in Athens, 21-22 July 2008.
25 October 2007, Larnaca, Cyprus
The “Nostrum-Dss & INECO Joint Event” was successfully held on the 25 Oct. 2007, Larnaca, Cyprus. A large number of EU project coordinators, researchers, and representatives of relevant International Institutions (i.e. MED-EUWI, GWP-Med, DFID, CEDARE, Cap-Net UNDP, EC-DG EuropeAid, ICS-UNIDO), including European Commission representatives participated to exchange scientific knowledge and project results on different topics in the domain of water resources management in the Mediterranean Region.
Hammamet-Médenine, Tunisia, 22-26 November 2007
The first workshop organized within the framework of the MELIA project "Water culture and water conflict in the Mediterranean area" will be celebrated in Tunisia from the 22nd to the 26th of November.
Muscat, Oman, 18-20 March 2007
The Water and Environment Team of the Sustainable Development and Productivity Division at ESCWA, in collaboration with the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ), the Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment & Water Resources in Oman are organizing an Expert Group Meeting (18-20 March, Muscat) with the support of the Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med) and the United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for West Asia (UNEP – ROWA).
Within the framework of implementing the climate change related commitments of the Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration on Water and Sanitation, GWP and AMCOW are implementing the Water Climate Development programe (WACDEP). The WACDEP aims to support African countries develop No/low regrets Water Security and Climate Resilience Investment Strategies, Plans and projects, and promote the integration of water security and climate resilience into national development plans.