The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) for Governance for Transboundary Freshwater Security has entered its second year, and coinciding with this, the interactive series of sessions that explore related topics resumed on 21 September. Over 100 participants joined the event on the topic of international water law and dispute settlement. The speaker presentations highlighted the complex and long-running nature of international water disputes.
Photographs of women walking down dirt roads with jugs of water on their heads – cast in roles as water carriers instead of water managers – is not yet a thing of the past. A new report launching on 16 September shows progress has been slow and the management of this vital resource is still male dominated.
How well is the world managing its water resources? To answer that question, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), with the UNEP-DHI Centre and Global Water Partnership (GWP), have analysed the responses from 186 countries to the survey instrument on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 6.5.1 – the degree of implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) – showing that the world as a whole has advanced from 49% in 2017 to 54% in 2020. While this does show definite progress, 107 countries are currently not on track to meet the target of implementing IWRM by 2030, and to reach the global goal, the current rate of implementation would need to at least double.
El viernes 10 de septiembre finalizó un curso dirigido y coordinado por Cap Net Argentina, con el acompañamiento del Foro Argentino del Agua/ GWP Argentina y de la Dirección Nacional de Gestión Ambiental del Agua y los Ecosistemas Acuáticos.
A GWPSA delegation, led by Executive Secretary Mr. Alex Simalabwi, has met with H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar, on 9 September 2021 in Zanzibar Town to discuss GWP work in the region.
The Gender Session for the 9th Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) River Basin Organisations / Shared Watercourse Institutions (RBOs/SWIs) Workshop will be held virtually on 21 September 2021, under the theme ‘Integrating gender equality and social inclusion into water programs of the SADC RBOs/SWIs and Member States.
SDG 6.5.1 reporting provides a wealth of data and a comprehensive picture on the progress of IWRM implementation in countries. In addition to the global progress report, some regions have taken the opportunity to analyse their progress and results from a regional perspective.
In response to a request made by the Urban Council of Douala during the June 2020 GWP-Cameroon Steering committee meeting, GWP-Cameroon with the support of GWPO is working on a Source to Sea approach project to better manage plastic waste to ensure healthy rivers in Cameroon’s economic capital, Douala.