News and Activities

Under the guidance of GWP Pakistan, the local water Partnership for the Nara canal in the lower Indus Basin launched a participatory programme to reduce poverty and improve agricultural productivity. This canal, the largest in Pakistan, irrigates 2 million acres (809,371 hectares) of land.

Although an IWRM approach was incorporated into the development of the new Rajasthan State Water Policy in 2010, it quickly became clear that few stakeholders had a clear understanding of how it worked. Now, GWP India and their NGO Partner, Jheel Sanrakshan Samiti, have created a better understanding of the IWRM approach by involving all stakeholders in a capacity building programme, enabling them to take the lead in the planning and management of water resources in the state.

The Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), supported by GWP Bangladesh, has conducted a study on managing flood risks for Dhaka in the face of climate change. The study resulted in a concept note on Climate Resilient Urban Flood Risk Management Framework for Dhaka.

GWP India partner Jheel Sanrakshan Samiti (JSS), together with GWP India, convened Women Self Help Groups from 21 communities on 10 October 2011 to address the role of women in the management of water. The marginalized role of women is related to social, educational and cultural traditions, the participants concluded, noting that the State Water Policy stresses the importance of the participation and involvement of women in water management.

GWP Pakistan collaborated on a National Workshop on Pakistan’s Preparations for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Islamabad on 12-13 September 2011. GWP Pakistan held a side event to promote IWRM and water saving/recycling and environmental conservation measures at ground level. The workshop was organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, UN One and the Rio+20 Secretariat.

A Seminar on the “Importance of Integrated Management in Mining Sand from the Riverbeds of Bangladesh” was conducted by SOUL (Save Our Urban Life) on August 24, 2011, with financial assistance from GWP Bangladesh.

Twenty-three Girl Guides participated in a residential programme in Colombo on August 5-6, 2011, to receive a “Training of Trainers” in Integrated Water Resources Management.

GWP Pakistan collaborated with WWF Pakistan in holding a Stakeholders Consultation in Islamabad on July 16, 2011, on Integrated River Basin Management for the Indus River and Water Stewardship Study.

The Pakistan Ministry of Environment accepted in May the first draft of the national climate policy and it is now ready to be forwarded to the federal cabinet for approval.

GWP India, through its Area Water Partnerships, is contributing to the improvement of water resources management.