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A review meeting on the 1^st draft manuscript on the “Limpopo River Basin: Atlas of Our Changing Environment” took place in Johannesburg, South Africa on 23^rd and 24^th June, 2016. The planned outputs were met, as participants were able to discuss and strengthen the content; strengthen the visual impact of the atlas and identity case studies and hotspots. By the end of the meeting, the manuscript drafting team agreed to the comments submitted by participants which would once completed improve the content of the atlas and make it easy for planners to put to use. 

The Youth H₂O forum joined a number of stakeholders in commemorating World Water Day which fell on 22^nd March 2016. The day was commemorated in two different places. The main event was held in Choma Southern province on the 21^st March, and the other event was held in Lusaka at Mtendere Clinic. 

The Mauritius Youth Water Network (MYWN) is an association comprising youth from different organisations (government, NGOs and other civil society organisations).  The MYWN was set up in June 2015 following a National Youth Forum during the SADC Water Week. The forum brought together youth leaders to develop a national action plan for the implementation of the AMCOW Policy and Strategy on Mainstreaming Youth in the Water and Sanitation Sector and SADC Youth Strategy.

Dr. Kuiri Tjipangandjara, GWPSA’s Chairperson will be discussing “The State of Namibia’s Water Security: Assessment and Proposed Interventions”. The lectures will be held on 2 ^& 16 June, 2016 and attempt to quantitatively assess the state of water security in three regions in Namibia, namely the Central Area, North Central Area and Central Coastal Area. The results show that Namibia’s water security for the three areas varies from low to very low – ranking between 50-61%. Guided by the results from the respective Areas, the intervention options were identified, compared and contrasted.

Research and Development (R&D) Institutions have a key role to play in Africa’s economic renewal and sustainable development, by improving conservation and utilisation of the continent’s water resources through R&D efforts. In its stride to continue collaborating with R&D institutions, GWPSA’s Executive Secretary, Ms Ruth Beukman participated at a kick off of the NEPAD Networks of Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Water Sciences Phase II meeting held at the Southern Sun- The Cullinan hotel in Cape Town, South Africa from the 24^th to the 26^th of May, 2016.

The African Minister’s Council on Water (AMCOW) Secretariat, in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Kenya and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) together with Global Water Partnership (GWP) organised a Water Resources Management Priority Action Plan (WRM-PAP) validation meeting from the 16th to the 18th of May 2016. The validation meeting will be followed by a Consultation Meeting on the Draft Framework and Indicators for the Water and Sanitation Sector Monitoring and Reporting in Africa scheduled for the 19th and 20th of May 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya. 

On the 4^th to the 6^th of May, 2016, GWPSA contributed to the National Adaptation Plans (NAP) process through its participation in a Training of Trainers workshop in Zimbabwe, with the aim of advancing the Zimbabwe NAP through the NAP Global Support Programme (GSP). The workshop was held in Kadoma, Zimbabwe, and 40 people attended. The participants came from various government departments, which include; Climate Change, Water, Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Local Government and Oxfam. 

The Swaziland Water Youth Forum is an entity under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, housed in the Department of Water Affairs. The forum was established during the SADC Water Week held in Swaziland last year. The forum has an action plan that includes raising awareness of the water sector among young people so as to enhance their participation in national development issues. 

Following the SADC Water Week Conference held at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe, Malawi from the 13-15 May, 2015, the Malawi National Youth Water Network (MNYWN) was formed on the 14^th of May, 2015. The setting up of the Network was in line with the SADC program for the African Minister’s Council on Water (AMCOW) Policy and Strategy on Mainstreaming Youth in the Water and Sanitation Sector through the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Water Aid and Malawi Water Partnership.

Africa in particular its sub Saharan part, is one of the most affected areas in the world regarding food insecurity (Africa 2014 report on hunger, IFPRI). The agricultural sector which food security and poverty reduction depends very much on in Africa is likely to be affected by climate change if no action is taken.  It is against that background that The Global Water Partnership Southern Africa held national consultations on water and food in Malawi and Lesotho on the 21^st of April 2016.