The process to develop a Concept Note for South Africa to mobilise US$10 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) kicked-off on 7 June, led by the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and supported by GWPSA, UNCCD, and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC).

The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is celebrated annually on 17 June to raise awareness around desertification and drought. GWP Senior Water & Climate Specialist Valentin Aich, who works on the Technical Support Unit of the Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP), shares some insights on what’s currently on the IDMP agenda. One of the major activities is expanding the programme to Caucasus and Central Asia (CACENA). Aich is passionate about this but explains that it is a process that will take years to achieve – however, all the elements are now in place and the time is right.

The Country Water Partnership (CWP) of Burkina Faso launched the TFTC2 project on May 27, 2021 at the Komki -Ipala town hall. This second phase of the project, which will run from 2021 to 2023, was built on the experience of the first phase of the Tonfuturtonclimat project.

As a prelude to the launch of the TFTC Phase 2 at country level, CWP-Benin organized on May 26 an information session for the communal actors of Tanguiéta on the content of the project.

After a successful first phase of implementation of the TonFuturTonClimat initiative (2018-2020), a second phase has been accepted following the February 2020 call for projects of the International Climate Cooperation Program (ICCP).

From January to May 2021, the Mekrou Phase 2 Niger Project management team (PMT) has continued with the implementation of planned activities including contract signing with the consultant firms that were selected at the end of the bid for tender to carry out two main studies in the project implementation zones and start of the study processes.

The National Directorate of Water (DNH) together with the CWP Mali organized on May 17, 2021 the validation workshop of the provisional report of the study on the status of the operation of the National Water Council (CNE) of Mali and the new draft text of the CNE.

The National Assembly of Guinea has created a network on sustainable development, promotion of sustainable development, integrated management of water resources, the fight against climate change and illegal immigration.

GWP-WA and CWP Benin organized together with the Executive Directorate of the Volta Basin Authority (VBA), the Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development (MCVDD) of Benin through the General Directorate of the National Environment and Climate Fund (FNEC) and the Directorate General for the Environment and Climate (DGEC) as well as the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEE) through the General Directorate of Water (DGEau) of Benin the workshop for the operational planning and follow-up of the implementation of the WACDEP-G activities in Benin and at regional level for 2021.

As part of the implementation of the Regional Partnership on Water and Environment in Central and West Africa (PREE) project, GWP West & Central Africa and IUCN Regional Offices for Central and West Africa organized a regional training workshop on the theme "Concepts, approaches and tools for mainstreaming Gender in IWRM Implementation and Monitoring and Evaluation" from 5 to 7 May 2021 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.