GWPEA has special legitimacy to lead dialogue, mobilize key stakeholders, inform, educate and sensitize stakeholders at all levels on IWRM;
The double integration, both horizontal and vertical, gives GWPEA an organized forum of participation of its networkers (public, private and CSO’s), and gives them a specific legitimacy for:
- Carrying out dialogues to highlight some water management aspects that are not sufficiently taken into account so as to support and catalyze collective actions in that effect ;
- Organize and mobilize partners for their opinions and concerns to be considered in the choice of water development and management policies (bottom-up dimension of participation, empowerment)
- Inform, train and sensitize stakeholders and water users on integrated water management programs and policies (top down dimension of the participation of civil society: information, knowledge and extension).
GWP Eastern Africa strived to engage professionals from water related sectors (especially government officials, young water professionals) and sensitize them on how the IWRM can be used as a tool for addressing water, climate and drought related challenges.
GWP Eastern Africa has also engaged and trained media practitioners in the region and imparted them with IWRM knowledge while urging them to report on water security and climate resilience related topics. This has increased their awareness as well as their coverage of these issues
GWPEA also facilitated National Consultations on Water and Food Security and Nutrition in Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda aimed at examining the report on Water and Food Security prepared by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE). Participantsi from key ministries, academia, UN agencies and NGOS were tasked to examine the relevance of each of the 8 key recommendations from the HLPE report in their country context for helping to meet national food and water security priorities.