The gender gap in the water sector is a significant challenge both internationally and regionally as those involved in development strategies tend to have many years of experience, traditionally associated with more established male role players. Bridging this gap is a means of ensuring that both genders, and the youth are part of the process of designing and shaping the future they inherit. Addressing this means providing shared ownership and capacity with respects to the global water challenges.
Drawing on the global theme for this year: Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality, The Global Water Partnership Southern Africa partners reflect on some initiatives in the region that have narrowed the gender gap in the water sector, and provide perspectives aimed at contributing to more effective gender mainstreaming in the water sector.
GWPSA joined other key stakeholders working around climate change adaptation at a regional workshop on Climate Change National Adaptation Plans for African Anglophone countries. The workshop, which was held in Lilongwe, Malawi from 27 February-3 March 2017, was organised by the UNFCCC LEG and was attended by about 50 participants from 25 Anglophone African countries. The regional training was officially opened by the Chief Director for Environment and Climate Change Management, Dr. Yanira Ntupanyama, Malawi. Remarks were also given from UNFCCC (Dr. Paul Desanker, Manager of NAPs and Policies, and LDCs Expert Group (LEG) Chairman, Mr. Abias Huongo-Angola.
The Board of Directors of Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) is pleased to announce that Mr. Alex Simalabwi has been named the new Executive Secretary, Head of Africa Coordination Unit and GWP’s Global Lead on Climate Resilience. His appointment was effective from 1st January 2017. Mr. Alex Simalabwi succeeds Ms. Ruth Beukman who had served GWPSA since 2003.
Tanzania Water Partnership (TWP) has been recognized and nominated by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in Tanzania to be a member of the National Multi-Sectoral Water Resources Management Forum. The forum is meant to serve as a national platform for discussing and deliberating on Integrated Water Resources Management and development issues involving wide stakeholder interests, water related institutions and sectors.
GWP and AMCOW – the African Ministers’ Council on Water – have been working together for over a decade. AMCOW Executive Secretary Dr Canisius Kanangire recently visited the GWP secretariat in Stockholm to discuss current and future collaboration. Dr Kanangire says that GWP has a lot of knowledge, experience, and expertise that can support AMCOW to reach results in many aspects of water resources management.
Coinciding with World Water Day, 22 March, GWP is launching a brand-new website – in 14 editions! Every GWP region (13 in total) has its own regional website, plus the global website www.gwp.org tying them all together. This hasn’t changed, but in addition to a new responsive look and design, the big makeover lies in new search functions for knowledge, news, events, and partners, as well as more highlighting GWP’s results. We strive for easy and quick access.
The Central America region is generously endowed with water resources, but concerns are growing about water scarcity in parts of the region. This can mean both a physical lack of water and a lack of mechanisms and actions for effectively managing, allocating, and developing water resources. A new GWP Technical Focus Paper focuses on these issues.
The Ministry in charge of water resources in Cameroon organized a workshop in collaboration with UNICEF Cameroon to formally launch the process of elaborating a National Water Policy. The workshop was held in Yaoundé on 20 February, and brought together key stakeholders of the water sector in Cameroon.
India Water Partnership (IWP) in association with one of its network partners SM Sehgal Foundation supported by CAWST (Canada) organised a four day workshop-cum-training programme from 28 February to 3 March 2017 in Samastipur District of Bihar, India on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS). The workshop raised awareness on issues around WASH and possible solutions and built capacities of the participants on HWTS. It assisted in establishing a stronger water network in Bihar by also including activists involved in other programmes.
