In celebration of this year's World Water Day theme "Water for Peace", GWP-Med, Horizon2020 REXUS Communication & Dissemination leader, explains the 3 ‘steps’ that are key to turning water into an opportunity for collaboration rather than conflict, and how REXUS is addressing them.
On the occasion of this year’s World Water Day, devoted to “Water for Peace”, we are presenting the ‘origins story’ of the successful transboundary collaboration for the protection of the Drin river basin, between 5 Riparians in Southeast Europe. This started 25 years ago, out of a shared desire to protect Europe’s oldest lake, Ohrid.
Growing populations and climatic impacts are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources. This is true of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region which comprises 16 Member States, whose population in 2018, was estimated to be at 345.2 million, a rise from 336.9 million as of 2017. Rivers play a pivotal role in the region's socio-economic development, as evidenced by its reliance on these waterways. Southern Africa boasts of 15 major transboundary river basins, shared among neighbouring countries, with 13 basins entirely within the region's borders. However, the equitable distribution of water resources remains a challenge, exacerbated by climatic factors influencing rainfall patterns and the geographical distribution of river basins. While these rivers can spark conflicts, they also serve as conduits for peace and cooperation. Therefore, prioritizing transboundary water cooperation is not merely about economic prosperity but also essential for nurturing stability and harmony throughout the region.
The theme of World Water Day 2024 is ‘Water for Peace’. On the occasion of World Water Day, we asked GWP CACENA partners what "Water for Peace" means to them.
/ Eastern Africa, Global, Mediterranean, South Asia, Southern Africa
Lilongwe, Malawi, March 14, 2024 – Leaders from seven African, Middle Eastern and Asian countries including high-level delegates from UNICEF, the British High Commission in Malawi and the Global Water Partnership are meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi, to assess efforts made in the seven countries towards building more climate-resilient water services under the multi-partner Global Water Leadership (GWL) Programme.
