Dr. Beatrice Mosello, from the Overseas Development Institute, shares her experience of the recent Water, Climate Development Programme training workshop in Addis Ababa, and her optimism for the integration of water security and climate resilience into development planning in Africa.
The formulation of Zimbabwe’s National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) process that began in 2012 finally came to an end on 15th July, 2014 at a multi stakeholder meeting that brought together 62 participants from different Ministries, partner organisations and other relevant departments. A key milestone of this meeting was the adoption of the NCCRS by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate.
GWP WAF took part in ECOWAS Water Resources Coordination Center’s launching workshop of the project for the establishment of the regional water observatory of ECOWAS. This project aims to contribute to the improvement of the performance of the water sector through the operationalization of the Centre for Water and strengthening the capacity of actors. The occasion was also seized for information on the ADB funding procedures. GWP / WA could be a partner in the implementation of certain project actions. GWP WAF was represented by Ms Félicité Chabi-Gonni Epse VODOUNHESSI, IDMP WAF Project Manager
The United Nation Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) have developed an online tutorial to raise awareness about the benefits of using climate services for decision-making. GWP contributes to the tutorial through a video interview with GWP Senior Programme and Network Officer Frederik Pischke.
GWP West Africa, Eau Vive (a French NGO), IRC, the municipality of Dori in Burkina Faso and other partners celebrated the World Water Day in Dori (northern part of Burkina) by paying a tribute to GWP WA's former Chair Honorable Hama Arba Diallo who passed away on 31 October 2014. A series of activities were done starting with a panel discussion on the topic « Leadership for the access to water and sanitation, the role and place of local officials : Example of Hama Arba Diallo ».
Water security is under intense pressure in many urban areas, and the very nature of urbanisation contributes to water stress situations both from a quantity and quality perspective. GWP – in collaboration with India Water Partnership and WAPCOS Limited – addresses urban water issues in a daylong workshop on Friday 16 January at India Water Week 2015.
The most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on climate change (IPCC) states in its summary for policy makers that integrated water resources management (IWRM) is a key part of adaptation experiences in several regions. “This shows that GWP’s and its partners’ advocacy efforts to explain how IWRM is the way forward for building water security and climate resilience are bearing fruit,” says GWP Executive Secretary Dr. Ania Grobicki.
The distribution of many rural communities in Brazil presents a major challenge in terms of providing access to energy. The production and consumption of energy can, however, have serious consequences for the natural environment. The energy sector in Brazil has been engaged in a process of ‘learning from mistakes'. One important lesson learnt is that establishing and maintaining a high-level policy consensus is key in achieving success.
GWP Cameroon held a training workshop in Kribi on 29 July to 2 August. The aim was to provide participants with the skills and knowledge to develop a balanced portfolio of investment options that enhance water security for climate resilient growth and development.
The regional WACDEP team in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), GWP and the Volta Basin Authority (VBA) is working on an initiative to prepare the project for the implementation of integrated flood management and the development of bankable projects, through the Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM), the WACDEP coordination unit.