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.
GWP is responding to the climate change challenge through the Global Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP) which includes a portfolio of programmes and projects aiming to build climate resilience through better water management. The WACDEP programmes and projects are developed by GWP Regional Water Partnerships in collaboration with relevant governments and regional economic development communities:
GWP Mediterranean presented the Non-Conventional Water Resources Programme in the Mediterranean at the World Water Forum in Marseille. The programme is implemented together with partner institutions, organisations and companies. It aims at advancing the use of Non-Conventional Water Resources in water scarce communities in the Mediterranean, as a cost-effective method for water availability and climate change adaptation. The traditional rainwater harvesting method is used and improved when combined with innovative techniques and methods.
25-27 November 2008, Shkodra, Albania
The Capacity Building Workshop on “Integrated Water Resources Management, with particular reference to the conditions in the extended Drin River Basin” was co-organised in Skhodra, Albania, 25-27 November 2008by the Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean (GWP-Med), the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE) and the GEF “Lake Shkoder/Skadar Integrated Ecosystem Management” Project.
24 November 2008, Tirana, Albania
The Consultation Meeting on Integrated Management of the extended Drin River Basin was organised in Tirana, Albania, 24 November 2008 by the Albanian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Global Water Partnership Mediterranean (GWP-Med), with the financial support of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
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).
21-22 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.