GWP-WA partners met in an Extraordinary Assembly of Partners on 17 October 2018 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso to allow the regional partnership to keep its legal status in the host country, Burkina Faso and to collect the contributions of partners for the ongoing development process of the new GWP 2020-2024 strategy.

The Silk Road began in ancient China and connected with Asia, Africa and Europe. It has developed from a land-based commercial route to a communication link between East and West in economic, political and cultural aspects. The “Belt and Road” aims to borrow the historical symbols of the ancient Silk Road. Contemporary Silk Road pays attention to sharing and win-win and realises the diversified, independent, balanced and sustainable development of countries along the route through the interconnection of Asian, American and European continents and nearby oceans.

Vientiane, 24 October 2018 -- The Mekong River Commission (MRC), Global Water Partnership Southeast Asia (GWP SEA), and US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) successfully organized a regional shared vision and collaborative modelling workshop for the Mekong River Basin. Keywords: transboundary river basin, Mekong River Basin, multi-stakeholders platform, regional shared vision planning, collaborative modelling, IWRM, participation, team building, decision support system.

Economy representatives and distinguished participants met in Skopje this week to discuss how water, energy, food and ecosystems can become more integrated in South East Europe (SEE).

GWP China’s host institution, the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR), celebrated its 60th anniversary with a week of academic sessions in Beijing, China. On 18 October, an international high-level forum was held on the topic of Modern Water Governance and Technological Innovation. Around 1000 guests were invited, including GWP representatives from its worldwide network.

On October 19 in San Salvador, GWP Central America and the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD), in coordination with the Central American and Dominican Republic Forum on Water and Sanitation (FOCARD-APS) and the Government of El Salvador, held a regional workshop to promote the exchange of experiences among the countries of Central America on progress in monitoring and implementing SDG 6 in the national 2030 agendas.

GWP Steering Committee Member and CEO of Thirst Mina Guli is going to run 100 marathons in 100 days – her single goal is to raise awareness around the global water crisis, and show what 100% commitment to water means. Mina’s challenge starts on 4 November with the New York Marathon. She will then run across Europe, China, Australia, India, the Middle East, Africa and South America, before finishing her 100-day run in the United States. GWP will help Mina to share water stories along her route.

Vientiane, 22 October 2018 -- A pre Steering Commitee Meeting was held in the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat on 22 October 2018 to discuss several important agenda for the upcoming event in the Q4. Involving 13 participants that represent the Country Water Partnership's Chair, GWP SEA Chairman and the Secretariat, as well as GWPO representatives, this event was back to back with the Regional Shared Vision Planning & Collaborative Modelling Training and Workshop which also held in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

At the request of the Sao Tome and Principe CWP, a meeting was organised with the Unicef office in Sao Tome and Principe to share the actions carried out by the Sao Tome and Principe CWP, possible cooperation agreements and protocols and identify projects that could be implemented jointly by the two structures.

The Annual Meeting of GWP Network Partners was held from 27 to 28 September 2018. The meeting provided an opportunity for GWP partners to contribute to the new GWP strategy under development.