The 25th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWPSA Symposium will be held from 30th October to 1st November 2024, at Avani Maseru Hotel, Maseru, the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. The event will be held under the theme, “Enhancing Sustainability: Upscaling Innovations and Best Practices for Integrated Catchment and Water Resources Management (ICWRM) in Eastern and Southern Africa – Leaving No One Behind”
In June 2024, Somalia concluded the implementation of a two-year Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Programme aimed at enhancing the country’s capacity to access climate finance. Approved in November 2021, the project was designed to strengthen the institutional capacity of Somalia’s Federal Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, as the country’s National Designated Authority (NDA) to access and manage climate finance, develop GCF Country Programme and develop investment concept notes. Implementation of these three main activities under the GCF Readiness Programme and its successful completion is a significant step in Somalia's journey towards climate resilience and sustainable development.
The Pungwe River Basin originates in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe and flows through Mozambique into the Indian Ocean. About 5 % of the basin area is in Zimbabwe, with the remainder in Mozambique. However, about 28% of basin flows are generated on the Zimbabwean side. The basin is rich in plant and animal diversity, which is constantly under threat from anthropogenic activities.
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 governments of Mozambique and Zimbabwe have recorded remarkable progress in building resilience against climate shocks, including floods and drought in the Buzi, Pungwe, and Save River Basins (BUPUSA), shared exclusively by the two countries.
The Government of Eswatini is engaging national stakeholders on financing strategies for the 15 prioritized water-related climate technologies in the country.
The Government of Zambia has launched its National Adaptation Plan (NAP), a long-term Strategic Plan formulated to address identified risks and vulnerabilities in various sectors to enhance Zambia's resilience to the impacts of climate change. The NAP was developed in partnership with GWP which provided technical and project management support and the Green Climate Fund funded the development process. The NAP, launched on Tuesday, 14 November in Lusaka.
Taskforces established under the Global Water Leadership Programme, being implemented in Malawi by Global Water Partnership & UNICEF, have been trained in developing finance plans.