16,000 children from 14 Danube countries expressed how they felt about their river in this basin-wide contest.
Dr. Danka Thalmeinerova, GWP’s Knowledge Management Officer, wrote this blog after attending a meeting on September 3-4, 2012, hosted by Finland, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention).
The Volta River Basin is one of the largest river systems in Africa covering an area of approximately 400,000 km2. The river basin stretches from latitude 5o 30' N in Ghana to 14o 30' N in Mali.
GWP Latvia and GWP Partner Daugavas Savieniba have prepared new guidelines for the restoration of water streams. The guidelines are a first attempt in the country to explain practical practical tips for river management activities on different scales, embracing both low cost local activities, as well medium scale multipurpose projects.
Involving small water service providers (SWSPs) as partners in sustainable water service provision has undergone a major change. Prior to the efforts of GWP Philippines and its Partners, SWSPs were not formally recognised as government partners in achieving the MDG target on water service provision.
GWP Southern Africa is actively involved with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Water Division and other Partners in preparations for the 5th SADC Multi-stakeholder Water Dialogue which will be held in Swaziland in June 2011.
At the request of the countries, a mission from GWP West Africa visited Gambia and Sierra Leone 19-28 September 2011, to follow up on the will expressed in 2009, during the development process of the IWRM roadmap, to set up GWP Country Water Partnerships. Exchanges on the importance of transboundary waters and their management mechanisms such as the UN Convention on International Water Courses were also discussed.
Public institutions, Civil Society Organizations, Academia, Media and other national stakeholders from Water Sector, Agriculture and Energy discussed about key priority water issues that need to be incorporated in the next development agenda termed as Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).