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12 August was designated International Youth Day by the UN General Assembly in 1999, and serves as an annual celebration of the role of young women and men as essential partners in change, and an opportunity to raise awareness of challenges and problems facing the world’s youth.

Jointly organised by the Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe (GWP CEE) and the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), this competition encourages children to take a closer look at their local river, and to reflect on what the environment means to them.

GWP-CAf partners joined GWP partners from across the globe during the October 21 – 22 Annual GWP Network Meeting to brainstorm on how to advance the water security agenda and mobilize water investments to “build back better” post COVID-19.

Twenty-five years ago, the European Union and the Southern Mediterranean partners committed to turning the Mediterranean basin into an area of dialogue, exchange and cooperation, guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity. The 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration reminds us that a strengthened Mediterranean partnership remains a strategic imperative for the European Union, as the challenges the region continues to face require a common response. Recognising growing interdependences, the new Agenda for the Mediterranean aspires to turn common challenges into opportunities, in a mutual interest approach. Servicing these, regional cooperation efforts will continue, with the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) as a focal point, supporting sub-regional and inter-regional cooperation, including with African partners, and joint initiatives between partner countries across the board.

“My journey in the water and development sector began through a simple internship for a small China-based NGO named Thirst”, says Alex Whitebrook, Fundraising Team Manager of Geneva-based NGO Water Inception and Focal Point Oceania for the World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW). Whilst studying international relations in Shanghai, Alex took on a role with Thirst to teach high-school students about China’s water challenges. One thing led to another, and now, as part of the GWP-WYPW youth storytelling initiative, Alex looks back and shares the story of his first on-the-ground experience, which took place in a tiny village in Mexico.

Every year, all GWP Regions meet to brainstorm, share knowledge and learn about current challenges and future opportunities for the network at the annual regional days. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, this year’s regional days was held virtually for a period of four days, starting June 1st with over 100 participants at the opening plenary chaired by the outgoing Executive Secretary (ES), Monika Weber-Fahr . All regions were fully represented including GWP-CAf which was represented by the Regional Chair, Regional coordinator, as well as the Finance and Communications officers.

The Cholistan Desert area is one of the largest deserts in Pakistan and is home to a semi-nomadic population and their livestock.  The primary source of income for Cholistan is cattle breeding. The climate of the desert area, with scanty and unpredictable rainfall as well as long periods of drought, makes water a limited resource. To address the issue of water shortages and to secure access of water to livestock, the people of Cholistan have created water ponds, called “tobas”. However, due to their vulnerability to extreme weather conditions and infiltration, the ponds storage capacities are low. There are around 1500 water points (tobas) in the entire desert out of only 500 were in running condition. Most tobas are not constructed in proper places because their present localities have not been identified on scientific basis to receive maximum rainwater.

August 25-30, 2019, GWP had a strong presence at this year’s Stockholm World Water Week (WWW). A large delegation participated in over 30 sessions, and the GWP Strategy for 2020-2025 was launched at a side event. Youth Professionals’ booth – was jointly hosted by GWP and Asian Development Bank (ADB), sharing youth engagement stories and operation model by GWP China, ASEAN, GWPO, ADB youth and water teams, Central Asia Youth for Water Network and Water Youth Network.