There are growing concerns about the potential effects of climate change on the socio-economic characteristics and natural resources of the Lower Mekong Basin. In response to the potential impacts of climate change, the Mekong River Commission has launched the regional Climate Change and Adaptation Initiative. Furthermore, a Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment has been conducted. The most important lesson learnt is that it is essential to establish a regional organisation to combat climate change.
Global Water Partnership (GWP) Eastern Africa and Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) Cooperate for Sustainable Water Resources Management and promoting climate resilience in the wide Kagera Basin.
More than 50 countries and numerous international organizations, including a GWP delegation, met at the sixth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s (UNECE) Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes in Rome, Italy, on 28-30 November 2012.
Up to 45 participants from more than 20 countries participated in the the 3rd annual ‘’International Law and Transboundary Freshwaters” workshop, organized by the University of Dundee on 11-14 June 2012. It was the second time GWP provided support to participants which are GWP Partners and 28 participants were from GWP Partner organizations.
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.
Rural and peri-urban areas are often neglected when making infrastructure investments. However, these areas could gain from treatment of domestic wastewater through the construction of wetlands. In Bulgaria, the problem of wastewater treatment was addressed through the construction of a wetland for treating wastewater from domestic sources. The lesson learnt is the importance of community initiatives.
The inaugural meeting of the Technical Working Committee on WACDEP in Ghana was held on 19th September, 2013 at the International Water Management Institute Conference Room in Accra under the auspices of the Ghana Country Water Partnership.