As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many meetings, workshops, and consultations suddenly went online. In many parts of the world, in-person meetings were impossible for a long time, and only now are slowly resuming. In other parts, hybrid meetings with online presence and in-person participation are becoming the new norm. Each of these formats comes with its pros and cons. In-person meetings allow for broader and deeper discussions, while online meetings are logistically easier to manage and make it easier for more participants to join. A new publication analyzes the impact that different formats can have on the quality of the interaction in the context of multi-stakeholder consultations.
In December 2020, GWP welcomed six new members on its Steering Committee, adding to seven members who have served longer. The Committee acts as a Board of Directors for the GWP Network and the GWP Organisation (GWPO). The members rotate every three or six years. Now, for the first time, a Permanent Youth Seat has been added. Jamilla Sealy from Barbados is the new representative on this seat. “Being the first youth, and also being a female of African descent and from the Caribbean, which are often under-represented in the global sphere, makes it a humbling experience”, she says about her appointment.
African nations have been urged to involve women in micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), as the continent seeks to find solutions to recover from the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Worst European drought in 500 years exposes the severe impact of water across all sectors, and highlights the urgent need for integrated, cross-sectorial approaches to water resources management.
“I want to invite all of you today to focus on partnerships because of the importance of tackling the biggest challenge with water – whether it’s scarcity, floods, climate patterns – is working together,” says GWP Executive Secretary Darío Soto-Abril in his message for World Water Day from Dakar, Senegal, where he is participating in the 9th World Water Forum.
Tanzania has launched response strategies that will support the country in resolving the country’s three major barriers to water resources management. Launched during the 2024 National Multi-Stakeholder Forum (NMSF) on 11th and 12th February, the strategies were developed under the Global Water Leadership Programme (GWL) which the Global Water Partnership Tanzania was implementing in collaboration with the Government of Tanzania. The GWL programme, a global initiative to support emerging leadership for improved water, sanitation and hygiene services, and climate resilience, is being implemented in various countries including Tanzania.
South Asia Women Water Network (WWN) meeting “Insights and Ideas for Empowering Women - from South Asia Women Water Professionals” was held online on 28 October 2022.