Climate change remains one of the most pressing global challenges, affecting vital sectors such as agriculture and water resources. For the Kingdom of Eswatini, these challenges are not just theoretical but a lived reality. Erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and recurrent floods pose significant threats to water security and sustainable development. In response, Eswatini is actively implementing initiatives to strengthen climate resilience in its water sector.
From August 26 to 29, 2025, Bamako hosted a national strategic training workshop on climate finance and the preparation of bankable projects through the Green Climate Fund (GCF), as part of the project “Support for GCF Readiness of the African Union Commission's Multi-Country Program to Accelerate the Water Investment Program (AU AIP)”.
At the AU – AIP Africa Water Investment Summit 2025, held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 13 – 15 August 2025, H.E. Retno Marsudi, United Nations Special Envoy on Water, delivered a powerful address affirming her commitment to advancing Africa’s water agenda.
The Governments of Eswatini, Mozambique and South Africa have officially endorsed and kick-started the implementation of a joint transboundary water project titled “UNDP-GEF Project: Strengthening Integrated Transboundary Management of the Incomati and Maputo River Basins.”
The UNDP-GEF Project “Supporting Sustainable Inclusive Blue Economy Transformation in African Small Island Developing States (African SIDS), through the African Union Commission and GWPSA, participated in an IW: Learn Twinning Exchange organised as part of the Global Environment Facility International Waters (GEF IW): LEARN 5 initiatives to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing between International Waters projects across regions. The exchange activities took place in Colombia and Belize from 27 October to 4 November 2025.
On June 6th, 2024, Global Water Partnership Southeast Asia (GWP-SEA) held its 5th webinar series of Innovative Solutions for Water Secure and Sustainable Development webinar series, focusing on the Global Rainwater Management Program with 55 attendees online.
Mali has taken a decisive step in the sustainable management of its water resources by officially launching the process to develop its National Water Investment Programme (PIE).
Bamako, December 15, 2025 – The conference hall of the National Directorate of Hydraulics (DNH) hosted on Monday the capacity-building workshop for national actors on the new flood forecasting and early warning platform, developed under the project “Real-time Mapping of Flood Risk in Mali” financed by the Adaptation Fund through the AFCIA program.
Over 70 representatives from fifteen African Union Member States gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from the 13 - 14 February 2025 for a training on AU Guidelines for the development of National Climate Resilient Water Investment Programmes. The training was part of the build-up to the 2025 AU-AIP Water Investment Summit which South Africa will host in the context of the G20 Presidency, and the 2026 UN Water Conference to be co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal.
The States and regional organisations of West Africa and the Sahel region met virtually on 5 December 2024 to discuss the sustainable management of water resources in West Africa, with a particular focus on the regional initiative for the development, resilience and valorisation of water for West Africa (DREVE) and its various pillars. Participants discussed the challenges and opportunities related to climate risk management, project financing, capacity building and the preservation of the Fouta Djallon Mountains.
