“Water is life, but water can also be a threat to life”. This was said by the Permanent Secretary in the former Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management (MWRDM) in a keynote speech read on his behalf at a Catchment and Sub-catchment consultation and action planning workshop. He further highlighted that water resources in Zimbabwe need to be treated with extreme care due to increased scarcity being brought about by the adverse effects of climate change.
“It’s time for participating in the implementation of WACDEP activities in Lake Cyohoha catchment-” Governor tells stakeholders, in Kirundo Province, of Burundi, on the 25th of July 2013.
The theme for the International Day for Biological Diversity in 2013 chosen by the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) is “Water and Biodiversity”. This theme was chosen to coincide with the United Nations designation of 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation. The International day for Biological Diversity is celebrated annually on the 22nd of May.
A joint GIZ, African Union Commission (AUC) and GWP study tour covered the topic of “Water Security and Climate Resilient Development in the German Water Sector” in Berlin in June. The participants were from the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and the training provided a closer look at effective climate adaptation measures in the German water sector.
The national meeting to validate and launch the Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP) in Ghana for ‘no/low’ regrets investments to increase access to water and sustainable development was held on 11th July, 2013 at Erata Hotel in Accra. The meeting was organised by the Ghana Country Water Partnership (G-CWP) in collaboration with the National Level Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP) of the Resource Centre Network under the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing.
Global Water Partnership Eastern Africa (GWPEA) has called on Rwanda and Burundi to collaborate in various ways for effective implementation of the Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP).
“An integrated approach to managing and developing the world’s water resources is vital for not only driving world economies, ensuring human well-being and security from hunger, but can also serve as an essential building block for enhancing coherence on adaptation,” said Dr. Ursula Schaefer-Preuss, Chair of GWP at a side event at the Bonn climate change negotiations. “Water is the connecting link because climate impacts are largely felt through the medium of water,” she said.
Building Linkages for Water Security and Climate Change Resilience in Zimbabwe
Key government institutions such as the Department of Water Affairs, including its parent Ministry, the Ministry of Water Resource Development and Management (MWRDM), played prominent roles at the launch of the Water and Climate Development Programme (WACDEP)in Harare, Zimbabwe, on the 10-11 April 2013, with over 70 stakeholders gathered.
As a key step in the overall process of implementing the Water and Climate Development Programme (WACDEP), a rapid capacity needs assessment in Africa was launched on Tuesday, 23 April 2013. The assessment will initially target eight countries and five river basins/aquifer systems currently implementing WACDEP: Burundi, Rwanda, Burkina-Faso, Ghana, Cameroon, Tunisia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique; Limpompo Basin, Kegera Basin, Lake Chad Volta Basin and the North Western Sahara Aquifer System.