Monthly Report of

the Global Water Partnership

June/July/August 2011

Table of contents NewsFlow July-September 2011 ............................................................................................... 2 CARIBBEAN ........................................................................................................................................................... 13 CENTRAL AMERICA ............................................................................................................................................. 22 CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE ........................................................................................................................ 29 CHINA .................................................................................................................................................................. 36 CENTRAL ASIA AND CAUCASUS .......................................................................................................................... 41 EASTERN AFRICA ................................................................................................................................................. 46 SOUTH AMERICA .................................................................................................................................................. 47 SOUTH ASIA ......................................................................................................................................................... 49

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(Green box)

New GWP Resources

Social Equity and Integrated Water Resources Management

Integrated Urban Water Management

Insert links to pages announcing

these publications

Order printed copies from

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NewsFlow

July-September 2011

New Climate Programme for Africa

Global Water Partnership and the African Ministers

Council on Water (AMCOW) launched a joint

programme to support water and climate change

adaptation in Africa. The Hon. Samuel Nkomo, Minister

of Water Resources and Development, Zimbabwe, and

AMCOW Vice President, and GWP Chair Dr Letitia A

Obeng, unveiled the Water, Climate and Development

Programme on August 23 at the 2011 Stockholm World

Water Week.

AMCOW, in collaboration with GWP, developed the

programme to integrate water security and climate

resilience in development planning processes, build

climate resilience, and support countries to adapt to a

new climate regime through increased investments in

water security.

Read more. http://www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-

action/News-and-Activities/Launch-of-GWPAMCOW-

Programme-at-World-Water-Week-2011/

GWP Consulting Partners meeting 2011

The annual GWP Consulting Partners Meeting was held

in Stockholm on August 18–19, 2011. The theme was

‚Water Security as a Catalyst for Achieving Food

Security.‛ This year GWP is celebrating its 15th

anniversary and GWP Patron, His Royal Highness the

Prince of Orange of the Netherlands, delivered the GWP

Annual Lecture.

Presentations, pictures and more information http://www.gwp.org/About-GWP/The-

network/Partners/Consulting-Partners-Meeting/GWP-Consulting-Partners-Meeting-2011/

GWP Annual Lecture 2011 by HRH the Prince of Orange

http://www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-action/News-and-Activities/Water-Security-a-

Development-Imperative-says-Prince-of-Orange/

Water, Food, Energy and Institutions: Inextricably Linked, Keynote Address by Dr Uma

Lele, GWP Technical Committee member

http://www.slideshare.net/globalwaterpartnership/cp-day1-

mailto:gwp@gwp.orghttp://www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-action/News-and-Activities/Launch-of-GWPAMCOW-Programme-at-World-Water-Week-2011/http://www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-action/News-and-Activities/Launch-of-GWPAMCOW-Programme-at-World-Water-Week-2011/http://www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-action/News-and-Activities/Launch-of-GWPAMCOW-Programme-at-World-Water-Week-2011/http://www.gwp.org/About-GWP/The-network/Partners/Consulting-Partners-Meeting/GWP-Consulting-Partners-Meeting-2011/http://www.gwp.org/About-GWP/The-network/Partners/Consulting-Partners-Meeting/GWP-Consulting-Partners-Meeting-2011/http://www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-action/News-and-Activities/Water-Security-a-Development-Imperative-says-Prince-of-Orange/http://www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-action/News-and-Activities/Water-Security-a-Development-Imperative-says-Prince-of-Orange/http://www.slideshare.net/globalwaterpartnership/cp-day1-7waterandfoodkeynoteumalelefinal

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7waterandfoodkeynoteumalelefinal

Engaging Students on Rainwater Harvesting

Global Water Partnership Caribbean continues to engage in a series of public education

activities targeted at building awareness on rainwater harvesting as a means of water

conservation. Its latest outreach was to more than 1,000 students and teachers from 42

schools in Trinidad and Tobago.

Read more.

GWP-C was able to share knowledge on this topic in celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Young Leaders Programme at its National Awards Ceremony

on June 9, 2011.

The RBC Young Leaders Programme is open to secondary school students in forms 3 and 4

and encourages community development by challenging students to implement sustainable

projects that would benefit their respective communities. The 2010/2011 RBC Young Leaders

theme was ‘Water: Beyond the Surface - Sustaining Life, Securing Our Future.’ Students across

the country were challenged to consider efficient methods of water management and they

implemented notable projects that promoted water conservation.

For the event, GWP Caribbean set-up a booth and its rainwater harvesting model. GWP

Caribbean Water Education Packages were distributed to teachers attending the event.

Demonstrating how the model works generated a lot of discussion by students who

expressed interest in learning about the benefits of rainwater harvesting. A few students

stated that they harvest rainwater but that the systems in their homes were not as advanced.

Some students also raised concerns about the quality of rainwater. GWP Caribbean

provided information on efficient ways of maintaining water quality; safe storage options;

various types of rainwater harvesting systems; guidelines on the roof catchment area; uses

and benefits of rainwater; among other topics.

Attending the event was the President of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Professor

George Maxwell Richards, and Dr. the Honourable Tim Gopeesingh, Minister of Education

who delivered the keynote address.

Gender Mainstreaming for Africa

On July 12, 2012, at the start of the African Sanitation Conference, the African Ministers

Council on Water (AMCOW) launched its ‚Policy and Strategy for Mainstreaming Gender

in Africa’s Water Sector.‛ The strategy development process, facilitated by AMCOW, GWP,

UNEP, the Gender and Water Alliance, and the WSP-World Bank, involved more than 40

African countries.

http://www.slideshare.net/globalwaterpartnership/cp-day1-7waterandfoodkeynoteumalelefinal

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The strategy was built on the African Union Gender Policy to ensure coherence and

alignment with Africa’s highest level policy and decision making platform. The strategy is

expected to provide a normative framework through which government, donor and civil

society agencies can find a system for mainstreaming gender at all levels, and be able to

compare achievements and challenges using the same set of indicators.

Stakeholders Consultation for Indus River

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. Over two hundred delegates, including 47 GWP Partners

participated in the consultation. Dr. Pervaiz Amir, Member of the panel of experts, and Mr.

Khalid Mohtadullah, GWP Senior Advisor, presented their papers and Ms. Simi Kamal,

Chairperson, Karachi Water Partnership, facilitated the question and answer session. Two

Policy Briefs, ‚Integrated River Basin Management for the Indus Basin‛ and ‚Proposed

Elements of Pakistan’s National Water Policy‛, and a brief report on ‚Water Stewardship in

Pakistan: The Role of Corporate Sector‛ were discussed and reviewed for finalization.

Links to GWP India site for more info on this consultation?

Honduras creates platform to manage Rio Tulián Basin

With the support of GWP Honduras, a coordination platform was established on June 7,

2011, to manage the Tulián River Basin. The river is the main water provider for the nearby

city of Puerto Cortés. The objective is to establish a mechanism to resolve conflicts on the use

of the water from the river and to increase the quality and quantity of water as stipulated in

the National Water Law. Mayors from the three main municipalities around the watershed

were present, as well as Congressional representatives, ministries of natural resources, the

national agriculture institute, and the army.

Girl Guides get IWRM training in Sri Lanka

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. The

Girl Guides Association in Sri Lanka is a GWP Partner and, with its 23,000 members, the

association offers huge potential for GWP Sri Lanka to increase its outreach community-

based IWRM activities. GWP Sri Lanka will link up with the trained Guides in planning

future school programmes such as the Water Messenger/Water Cell Programme.

GWP China-Fujian Surveys Drinking Water

GWP China-Fujian, with support from the Fujian Provincial Water Resources Department,

carried out a survey on water resources, including rural drinking water safety. The purpose

of the investigation was to ensure an integrated and sustainable approach to water resources

management for the planned construction of an economic zone.

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The survey began in early 2011 and ended in August. The ‚Workshop on Fujian Island’s

Water Resources‛ was held on April 28 where comments and recommendations covered

aspects of desalination technologies, water transport, water-saving, and pollution control.

The second phase focused on rural drinking water safety and integrated management of

watersheds in rural areas. Mr. Liu Ziwei, Deputy Director General of the Fujian Provincial

Water Resources Department and Honorary Chair of GWP China-Fujian, and Mr. Bian

Hongda, Chair of GWP China-Fujian, have carried out the studies to promote an IWRM

approach.

Sand Mining in Bangladesh Requires Integrated Approach

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. The benefits and limitations of sand

mining were discussed and Tauhidul Anwar Khan, GWP Bangladesh’s Secretary General,

presented the keynote paper which highlighted unplanned and mismanaged sand mining.

He also presented the government’s draft plan which recommends the integrated

management of mining sand from the riverbeds. Around 70 participants attended from

government, non-governmental organizations, and print and broadcast media.

GWP Bhutan reaches students with water messages

To raise awareness among students about water scarcity and how people need to use this

resource with care, GWP Bhutan, in partnership with a business firm, printed messages

about water in over 15,000 note books that will be distributed to more than 550 schools

starting in 2012.

How to Manage the Transition to Water Security and a Green Economy?

This question was addressed by GWP Technical Committee Chair, Dr Mohamed Ait-Kadi,

who spoke at ‚Green Week‛, the largest annual conference on European environment

policy, in Brussels, in May 2011. His presentation ‚Water Security & Green Economy: links

through IWRM‛ was given at the session on ‚The United Nations conference on sustainable

development in 2012: Can it deliver on resource efficiency?‛

Read more.

Dr. Ait-Kadi’s presentation: Water Security & Green Economy: Links through IWRM

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/greenweek/sites/default/files/2-9_Ait_Kadi.pdf

Dr Ait-Kadi highlighted several concurrent challenges such as fuel and food price shocks

and extreme weather events that have challenged ‚our optimistic vision of continuing

progress in development, as well as the relevance of the world economic model.‛ He noted

that the threat to the economic model of industrialized countries and natural resources

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/greenweek/sites/default/files/2-9_Ait_Kadi.pdf

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degradation are coming together in a way that ‚creates unprecedented opportunities for

fundamental economic, institutional, technological, social, and political changes. The water

security-green economy linkage is at the heart of this debate.‛

How can developing countries manage the transition to water security and a green

economy? The ‚3 Es‛—economic efficiency, social equity and environmental

sustainability—the pillars of integrated water resources management (IWRM), are a starting

point. But Dr. Ait-Kadi recognized that the transition requires contextualization and

differentiation (there is no ‘one size fits all’ prescription). A lot depends on each country’s

demographics, capacity to restructure the economy, social transitions such as employment

and poverty reduction, and especially institutions and governance.

Dr. Ait-Kadi outlined the following measures:

- Policy instruments that promote complementarities (economic, social,

environmental) and that leverage change

- Fiscal instruments that give a price to environmental goods

- Strengthened institutional arrangements that cut across sectoral silos and sovereign

boundaries

- Financial instruments that share risk between government and investors, making

new technologies affordable

- Skills development to support the emerging green sectors in the economy

- Information and monitoring: set targets, define trajectories and gather the right

information to monitor progress (e.g., on water/energy efficiencies)

- Innovation planning: increasing water productivity, developing stress tolerant

materials that can address water scarcity, salinization, groundwater contamination,

water quality, and wastewater treatment

GWP Armenia Advocates for River Protection

GWP Armenia organized a roundtable devoted to the Kura-Araks River on June 2, 2011, a

day designated as the Kura-Araks Rivers Protection Day. The round table was aimed at

attracting the attention of participants to the problems of transboundary river basins. The

key message of the roundtable was to apply ‚Common river – Common Opportunities‛

approaches.

The participants met in Dilijan City on the banks of the transboundary Aghstev River which

is a tributary of the Kura-Araks (also a transboundary river). They decided to work toward

the establishment of a independent river basin council within the Aghstev River basin so

that an integrated basin plan can be implemented. Issues facing the basin include legal

frameworks, deforestation, and water quality.

The Kura-Araks and Aghstev basins are located in the arid South Caucasus. Most of the

South Caucasus’ population reside in these basins whose waters are essential for household,

agricultural, industrial and other purposes. Their importance is reflected in the natural

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resources protection programs of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. It was concluded that

small steps je technical work of water partners could lead to convincing policy makers to

adopt IWRM plans at national and even transboundary levels.

New Global Soil Partnership Complements GWP

A Global Soil Partnership for Food Security was launched at the Food and Agricultural

Organization (FAO) on September 7, 2011. It will help implement the provisions of the

World Soil Charter, adopted in 1982, and raise awareness and motivate action by decision-

makers on the importance of soils for food security and climate change adaptation and

mitigation. As such it will complement the work of the Global Water Partnership. A

Memorandum of Understanding between GWP and

FAO was signed on this occasion, in the presence of representatives of the Member States of

FAO.

Read more.

http://www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-action/News-and-Activities/New-Soil-Partnership-to-

mirror-and-complement-GWP/

GWP–University of Dundee Training 2011

Thanks to a partnership between GWP and the IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy &

Science, under the auspices of UNESCO, based at the University of Dundee, the first joint

group of International Water Law Scholars from Cameroon, China, Ethiopia, Ghana,

Mozambique, Ukraine and Zambia began their studies by attending the Annual Workshop

on International Law and Transboundary Freshwaters, held at the University of Dundee.

Read more.

http://www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-action/News-and-Activities/GWP--University-of-Dundee-

Knowledge-Chain-Scholars-group-begin-training-in-international-water-law/

Accredited Country Water Partnerships

GWP India and GWP Pakistan were formally accredited as Country Water Partnerships in

June 2011. Country Water Partnerships govern themselves and convene stakeholders to

address specific issues. They bring about solutions that are informed by and tailored to local

conditions, and good practices from across the network.

Meet Our Partners

GWP is a network of more than 2,400 institutional partners. Here is an interview with

Camille F. Jepang Sandjong, who is in charge of IUCN’s Regional Programme on Wetlands

and Water, West and Central Africa Programme.

http://www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-action/News-and-Activities/New-Soil-Partnership-to-mirror-and-complement-GWP/http://www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-action/News-and-Activities/New-Soil-Partnership-to-mirror-and-complement-GWP/http://www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-action/News-and-Activities/GWP--University-of-Dundee-Knowledge-Chain-Scholars-group-begin-training-in-international-water-law/http://www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-action/News-and-Activities/GWP--University-of-Dundee-Knowledge-Chain-Scholars-group-begin-training-in-international-water-law/

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http://www.gwp.org/en/About-GWP/The-network/Partners/meet-our-partners/IUCN-West-

and-Central-Africa-Programme-WCAP/

Read more about benefits of being a GWP Partner.

Get involved. Join our network!

Follow GWP and Join Us

To hear about new publications and other news before it is published in NewsFlow, join us

on Facebook, Twitter, and subscribe to our blog.

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GWP in the news

GWP Mediterranean manages Coca-Cola project

Eco-Gozo set to receive grant (Malta Independent Online)

$800000 grant for eco-Gozo water conservation project (Gozo News)

$800000 grant for Eco Gozo's water stewardship programme (Times of Malta)

$800000 grant by The Coca-Cola Foundation for Eco Gozo's Water ... (di-ve.com)

New Global Soil Partnership Complements GWP Land rush and sustainable food security (The Hindu)

Global steps vital to preserve worldwide soil fertility and avoid (UN News Centre)

Global Soil Partnership for Food Security launched at FAO (StarAfrica)

HRH the Prince of Orange holds GWP Annual Lecture 2011

Prince of Orange calls for 21st century cascade water technology

Willem Alexander Gives Speech at Global Water Partnership ..

Southern Africa: Getting Water to the People

Trying to Access Funding for Climate Change (InterPress)

Integrating water with climate change adaptation plans (Environmental Expert)

More news in our Press Room.

GWP IWRM ToolBox

Irrigation Associations in Fujian Province, China (#401), discusses innovative methods

http://www.gwp.org/en/About-GWP/The-network/Partners/meet-our-partners/IUCN-West-and-Central-Africa-Programme-WCAP/http://www.gwp.org/en/About-GWP/The-network/Partners/meet-our-partners/IUCN-West-and-Central-Africa-Programme-WCAP/http://cts.vresp.com/c/?GlobalWaterPartnersh/d29c20cbb7/ce526c5http://cts.vresp.com/c/?GlobalWaterPartnersh/d29c20cbb7/ce526c5365/150http://cts.vresp.com/c/?GlobalWaterPartnersh/d29c20cbb7/ce526c5365/150http://cts.vresp.com/c/?GlobalWaterPartnersh/d29c20cbb7/ce526c5http://cts.vresp.com/c/?GlobalWaterPartnersh/d29c20cbb7/ce526c5http://cts.vresp.com/c/?GlobalWaterPartnersh/d29c20cbb7/ce526c5http://cts.vresp.com/c/?GlobalWaterPartnersh/d29c20cbb7/ce526c5http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp%3Fnewsitemid%3D131753&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAk5On8wRIAVgBYgJlbg&cd=iC6KyAz0wwA&usg=AFQjCNGTpILkmVNIVvd9YCn8p2ozuvlwQQhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://gozonews.com/19256/800000-grant-for-eco-gozo-water-conservation-project/&ct=ga&cad=CAEQARgAIAAoATAAOABAmJek8wRIAVgBYgJlbg&cd=hZz7EhnYjFc&usg=AFQjCNEJRr6wRu_bQ9B4ZATzKkRZeWchvAhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110908/local/-800-000-grant-for-Eco-Gozo-s-water-stewardship-programme.383721&ct=ga&cad=CAEQARgAIAAoATAAOABAmqmh8wRIAVgBYgJlbg&cd=93b4jUMjZd4&usg=AFQjCNE7AkmWxXCS6AI9igaIR-okSf9WMghttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.di-ve.com/Default.aspx%3FID%3D71%26Action%3D1%26NewsId%3D86038&ct=ga&cad=CAEQARgAIAAoATAAOABA4Nyy8wRIAVgBYgVlbi1VUw&cd=SIKcWogDhPE&usg=AFQjCNHlNOGro8bxAWY0bNIqPQXQqqtJFwhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article2450481.ece%3Fhomepage%3Dtrue&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAyPW-8wRIAVgBYgJlbg&cd=Qz6I8dhXL3E&usg=AFQjCNHrLqZgEpbVk16rCw-h33pHdiTtZAhttp://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39470&Cr=agriculture&Cr1=http://www.starafrica.com/en/news/detail-news/view/global-soil-partnership-for-food-securit-188316.htmlhttp://www.dutchwatersector.com/news/?p=755http://www.dutchwatersector.com/news/?p=755http://www.zimbio.com/Crown+Prince+Willem-Alexander/articles/9aoZOcyx4lF/Willem+Alexander+Gives+Speech+Global+Waterhttp://www.globalissues.org/news/2011/06/29/10304http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp%3Fidnews%3D56329&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABA4Ie38ARIAVgBYgVlbi1VUw&cd=JCXRWBH_YXE&usg=AFQjCNH_QFBXt-CMvwjhtjT83Kwnu6fgBAhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.environmental-expert.com/news/integrating-water-with-climate-change-adaptation-plans-245103&ct=ga&cad=CAEQARgAIAAoATAAOABA5_G28ARIAVgBYgJlbg&cd=SwrYokqcvAI&usg=AFQjCNFi3UjV4JZOZ9g_4TT4vDbXvLv5eghttp://cts.vresp.com/c/?GlobalWaterPartnersh/d65d2290e1/8618675d18/3107c1d7d9

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aimed at improving agriculture practices and water saving methods.

http://www.gwptoolbox.org/index.php?option=com_case&id=290&Itemid=13

Brief history of IWRM and its evolution:

http://www.gwptoolbox.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=3)

Coming events

15 September 2011 deadline, Best Green Water Stewardship Award

20 September 2011, deadline, 8th National Award for Excellence in Water Management

Application period: 30 June-30 September 2011

2nd edition of the ‘Water for Life’ UN-Water Best Practices Award. Focus is ‘Water for Food

Security’

IRC Story writing Competition on valuable lessons from the WASH sector

18 September 2011, World Water Monitoring Day 2011

21-23 September 2011, Seventh ‚Environment for Europe‛ Ministerial Conference, Astana,

Kazakhstan, http://www.unece.org/env/cep/2011SpecialSessionMay.html

25 September 2011, World Rivers Day 2011

25-29 September 2011, XIVth IWRA World Water Congress: ‚Adaptive Water Management:

Looking to the future‛, Porto de Galinhas, Brazil http://www.worldwatercongress.com

26-29 September 2011 14th International River symposium

28-30 September 2011, 9th General Assembly of the Mediterranean Network of Basin

Organisations (MENBO) and the EURO-INBO Conference on the Implementation of the

Water Framework Directive, Porto, Portugal, www.remoc.org

3-7 October 2011, Water and Health Conference, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

http://whconference.unc.edu/

3-4 Oct 2011, Water in the Green Economy in Practice: Towards Rio+20, Zaragoza, Spain

4-6 October 2011, Three-day workshop by WMO and Cap-Net on IWRM as a tool for

adaptation to climate change, Geneva, Switzerland, more information: ssandstrom@wmo.int

6-7 October 2011, GWP Caribbean hosts its7th High Level Session (HLS) for Caribbean

http://www.gwptoolbox.org/index.php?option=com_case&id=290&Itemid=13http://www.gwptoolbox.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=3http://www.greenawards.com/entry_information/2011_categories/best_green_water_stewardshiphttp://www.greenbusinesscentre.com/site/ciigbc/viewevent.jsp?eventid=296836&event=ddhttp://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/waterforlifeaward.htmlhttp://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/waterforlifeaward.htmlhttp://www.irc.nl/page/51946http://www.wwmd.org/http://www.unece.org/env/cep/2011SpecialSessionMay.htmlhttp://www.riversday.bcit.ca/http://www.worldwatercongress.com/http://www.riversymposium.com/http://www.remoc.org/http://whconference.unc.edu/http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?page=view&type=13&nr=286&menu=29mailto:ssandstrom@wmo.int

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Ministers with responsibility for Water. This year’s focus is ‘Water Management Financing in

the Caribbean: Pricing, Efficiency, Equity and Sustainability.’

15-23 October 2011, 21st International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage, Teheran, Iran,

www.icid2011.org

19 and 20 October 201, Task Force Meeting of UNECE/WHO on Protocol on Water and

Health, in Tbilisi, Georgia, taskforce_tbilisi2011@yahoo.com

26-28 October 2011, International Environment Forum for Basin Organisations,

Bangkok,Thailand

29 Oct-4 Nov 2011, International Water Week, Young Water Professionals Programme,

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Nominations for the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2012 are now open until 31 October 2011

www.siww.com.sg

16-18 November 2011, Bonn 2011 Nexus Conference - Initiating integrated solutions for the

Green Economy, Bonn, Germany

20-23 November 2011, 2nd Arab Water Forum, Cairo, Egypt

21-24 November 2011, HELP International Symposium, Panama, Republic of Panama

30 Nov - 3 Dec 2011, ‚Groundwater Resources Management: Adaptation Measures to Water

Scarcity‛ Science and Policy Responses, Irvine, California, USA, www.groundwater-

conference.uci.edu

New Resources

FAO report: ‚Climate change, water and food security‛

Experiences of Climate Change Adaptation in Africa n(online book)

World Water Day 2011 final report, UN Water

Ecosystem Approaches in Integrated Water Resources Management IWRM A Review of

Transboundary River Basins

WBCSD Global Water Tool, a free and easy to use tool for companies and organizations to

map their water use and assess risks relative to their global operations and supply chains

file:///M:/Documents%20and%20Settings/301700stdo_euro.EURO/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/GVRMZN5M/www.icid2011.orgmailto:taskforce_tbilisi2011@yahoo.comhttp://www.inbo-news.org/http://www.internationalwaterweek.com/youth-programme/http://gsi.g2m.sg/link.php?M=16458&N=3883&L=98&F=Hhttp://www.water-energy-food.org/en/conference.htmlhttp://www.water-energy-food.org/en/conference.htmlhttp://www.arabwatercouncil.org/AWF/2nd-AWF-Announcement.htmlhttp://www.helpsymposium.com/eng_inicio.htmlhttp://www.groundwater-conference.uci.edu/http://www.groundwater-conference.uci.edu/http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/i2096e/i2096e.pdfhttp://www.springerlink.com/content/978-3-642-22314-3/#section=936615&page=7&locus=0http://www.unwater.org/downloads/World_Water_Day_2011_Final_Report_Web.pdfhttp://iwlearn.net/publications/ll/ecosystem-approaches-in-integrated-water-resources-management-iwrm-a-review-of-transboundary-river-basins/viewhttp://iwlearn.net/publications/ll/ecosystem-approaches-in-integrated-water-resources-management-iwrm-a-review-of-transboundary-river-basins/viewhttp://www.wbcsd.org/

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Urban wells: a vital but ignored resource

Workshop Proceedings from Bad Schoenbrunn 20-23 June 2011, organised by the Institute

for Social and Development Studies at the Munich School of Philosophy about "water

management options in a globalised world - promoting a dialogue between economics,

ethics and other disciplines".

UN Training Platform on Climate Change:UN CC:Learn

The Atlas of Coasts and Oceans, Mapping Ecosystems, Threatened Resources and Marine

Conservation

New Dimensions in Water Security: Water, society and ecosystem services in the 21st

century

Water in the News

The Stockholm Statement to the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable

Development in Rio de Janeiro (Rio+20 Summit), World Water Week 2011

50 new scholarships to study in 2012 in the Water Centre Integrated Water Management

program.

India needs a sound water policy for a stable future

Singapore International Water Week Launches Blue Paper and Solutions

Gender and water management: a focus on Central Asia

UN: Ramp up investment for water security

Farming overhaul vital for food, water security: UN

Sound governance crucial for water resource management, UN official says

http://pubs.iied.org/G03127.html?s=RA&b=dhttp://www.hfph.de/igp/proceedings2011http://www.uncclearn.org/events/iwrm_tool_adaptation_climate_changehttp://www.earthscan.co.uk/?tabid=102830http://www.earthscan.co.uk/?tabid=102830ftp://ftp.fao.org/agl/aglw/docs/misc25.pdfftp://ftp.fao.org/agl/aglw/docs/misc25.pdfhttp://www.siwi.org/documents/WWW_PDF/2011/2011-Stockholm-Statement.pdfhttp://www.siwi.org/documents/WWW_PDF/2011/2011-Stockholm-Statement.pdfhttp://www.mooballmailer.com/link.php?M=731449&N=2856&L=2202&F=Hhttp://www.mooballmailer.com/link.php?M=731449&N=2856&L=2202&F=Hhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.asianage.com/ideas/india-needs-sound-water-policy-stable-future-574&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAidSb8wRIAVgBYgVlbi1VUw&cd=1zLUK6UxWFQ&usg=AFQjCNEQCtw4d7wygd8NaaTlcPPFbPHSswhttp://en.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/7420/singapore-international-water-week-launches-blue-paper-and-solutionshttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.environmental-expert.com/articles/gender-and-water-management-a-focus-on-central-asia-254559&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAmNj48gRIAVgBYgVlbi1VUw&cd=GgCb75-Dvxc&usg=AFQjCNEQj3Vu_Y7UDpvNb4IlxEtFM-Xw_ghttp://www.eco-business.com/news/un-ramp-up-investment-for-water-security/http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE77L00R20110822&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAzpbL8gRIAVAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=-EitnsUuTCs&usg=AFQjCNES1C7yk0y-nafYTphsZQD8XNRYBQhttp://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38941&Cr=escap&Cr1=

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Water Wars May Lie Ahead

World Economic Forum: Highlights Water as Key Factor for Food and Energy Security

http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2011/06/29/water-wars-may-lie-ahead/?mod=google_news_bloghttp://www.weforum.org/news/forum-highlights-water-key-factor-food-and-energy-security?fo=1

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GWP Regions

CARIBBEAN

Activities

GWP-C Engages Secondary School Students on the Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting

In light of the recent development of its Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) model in 2010, Global

Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) has and continues to engage in a series of public

education activities targeted at building awareness on rainwater harvesting as a means of

water conservation.

GWP-C was able to share knowledge on this topic when it joined more than 1000 students

and teachers from 42 schools in Trinidad and Tobago in celebrating the 30th Anniversary of

the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Young Leaders Programme, at its National Awards

Ceremony on June 9th, 2011.

The RBC Young Leaders Prgramme is open to secondary school students in forms 3 and 4

and encourages community development by challenging students to implement sustainable

projects that would benefit their respective communities. The 2010/2011 RBC Young Leaders

theme was ‘Water: Beyond the Surface - Sustaining Life, Securing Our Future.’ Based on the

theme, thousands of students across the country were challenged to consider efficient

methods of water management and they implemented notable projects that promoted water

conservation.

14

For the event, GWP-C set-up a booth around the topic of rainwater harvesting, where it was

able to display its RWH model.

Demonstrating how the model works generated a lot of discussion by students who

expressed great interest in learning about the benefits of rainwater harvesting. A few

students stated that they harvest rainwater but that the systems in their homes were not as

advanced. Some students also raised concerns about the quality of rainwater. GWP-C was

able to provide information on efficient ways of maintaining water quality and answer their

questions.

GWP-C was also able to engage students in discussions using the posters on the model

which provided information on how the system works; ways of maintaining water quality;

safe storage options; various types of rainwater harvesting systems; guidelines on the roof

catchment area; uses and benefits of rainwater; among other topics. Students were also

engaged in a question and answer game on water conservation methods.

The GWP-C booth included material for the students such as bookmarks on rainwater

harvesting and water conservation; leaflets on rainwater harvesting and the GWP-C

rainwater harvesting model; GWP-C fact sheets; as well as material from the Global Water

Partnership (GWP).

Cross-section of GWP-C material displayed at the

event.

GWP-C’s display on Rainwater Harvesting at the National Awards Ceremony for the

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Young Leaders Programme on June 9th, 2011.

15

GWP-C Water Education Packages for Educators were distributed to teachers attending the

event. The packages contained GWP-C factsheets; a list of online water education resources

for the classroom; a rainwater harvesting poster for their respective school; water

conservation bookmarks; along with other material.

Distinguished guests attending the event included the President of Trinidad and Tobago,

His Excellency, Professor George Maxwell Richards and Dr. The Honourable Tim

Gopeesingh, Minister of Education of Trinidad and Tobago who delivered the feature

address at the event; among other notable attendees.

Follow-up Action:

GWP-C collected contact details of all teachers that received a water education

package and intends to conduct a Monitoring and Evaluation survey amongst all

teachers that have obtained GWP-C’s Water Education package to assess how the

information has been used in the classroom.

International Water Advocates Share Insights with Local Stakeholders

Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) had the opportunity to learn and engage in

discussions on critical global water issues at the Royal Bank of Canada’s (RBC’s) ‘Business of

Water Innovation’ Breakfast Forum held in Trinidad on June 8th, 2011.

The event which lent support to the RBC Blue Water Project was put on by RBC in

collaboration with National Geographic. The RBC Blue Water Project is a 10 year global

commitment to help the world’s fresh water supply through charitable grants world-wide.

The Breakfast Forum which took the form of a panel discussion provided an informative

and interactive way of sharing knowledge on global and regional water issues and

initiatives. The panel featured : Alexandra Cousteau, National Geographic Emerging

Explorer; Kenny Broad, National Geographic Explorer and Scientist; Dr. Jennie Ward

Robinson, Executive Director of the Institute for Water and Public Research; and John

Stollmeyer of Wa Samaki Ecosystems in Trinidad.

Students seen here at GWP-C’s Interactive Station.

16

Dr. Jennie Ward Robinson, Executive Director of the Institute for Water and Public Research

discussed how the RBC Blue Water Project could serve as a roadmap to solve water

challenges. Dr. Robinson provided local perspectives by speaking about the ‘Water for

Life: The Trinidad and Tobago Initiative’ which was launched in September 2009 and is funded

by the RBC Blue Water Project.

The ‘Water for Life’ project is aimed at delivering safe drinking water systems to school

children and rural communities of Trinidad and Tobago, while delineating the health, social,

economic and educational impact of water provisioning, health literacy regarding hygiene,

sanitation and safe water management to the selected communities. In her presentation she

acknowledged the work and involvement of GWP-C and its partner the Women Gender and

Water Network who are both major partners in the project.

Alexandra Cousteau a National Geographic Emerging Explorer and also the grand-daughter

of the legendary explorer Jacques Cousteau spoke of the basis of her work which revolves

around showing that the world’s water resources are all connected and human beings have

contributed to the quality and quantity of natural water systems. She explained that she

works with communities to help them find sustainable ways of getting back a safe and

reliable water supply.

The National Geographic Emerging Explorer also shared experiences from a 138 day

expedition which she led across North America in 2010 called ‘Expedition Blue Planet.’ The

expedition was aimed at investigating global water issues in the world’s largest consumer

economy.

Excerpts of the expedition which was developed into a video were shared with participants.

The video explores some of the great water treasures of the region; investigates issues on

water conservation; stories of various people working on fighting the global water crisis;

watershed restoration projects; among other activities.

Kenny Broad, National Geographic Explorer and Scientist provided interesting perspectives

on managing water, explaining to stakeholders that it involves changing behaviour as

oppose to all the technical issues. He provided key areas in which this approach can be used,

citing climate change; water conservation; pollution; waste water re-use; rational pricing

schemes; and support of public investment in water works.

Broad also gave insight into some of the major challenges of water which included: water’s

invisibility; its inter-connectivity; its complex connections; the challenge of involving youth;

institutions; among others.

Also providing local and regional perspective on water related issues was John Stollmeyer

of Wa Samaki Ecosystems, an organisation based in Trinidad that engages in permaculture

activities. Permaculture is an approach to agriculture and land use that seeks to work with

rather than against nature. In describing the activities of Wa Samaki Ecosystems, he spoke of

the importance of rainwater harvesting and other methods of water conservation.

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Quarry Stakeholders Discuss Water Resources Management

The Water Resources Agency (WRA) of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) of

Trinidad and Tobago hosted its first meeting of Quarry stakeholders at the Kapok Hotel in

Trinidad on July 13th, 2011. The theme of the meeting was ‘Building Partnerships, Protecting

Our Natural Environment’ and sought to identify and discuss actions to mitigate the impacts

quarry activities are having on watersheds and water resources in Trinidad and Tobago.

Quarry operations taking place in various parts of the country has resulted in effluent

discharge flowing into rivers leading to adverse effects on nearby Water Treatment Plants.

For example, sediment discharge due to quarry actions has caused interruptions in the

operations of Water Treatment Plants and consequently in some instances reduced the

quality of the available water supply to consumers. Another major problem which exists is

that many of the Quarry Operators in the country are not equipped with the relevant

licenses to engage in quarry activities.

These grave consequences essentially spurred the need for stakeholders’ input and

discussions as the meeting aimed to initiate the process of establishing regulatory

interventions and legislation of quarrying activities.

Mr. Wayne Clement, Manager of the Water Resources Agency (WRA) is seen

here speaking at the opening of the Quarry Stakeholders Meeting held in

Trinidad on July 13th, 2011.

18

A panel of speakers featuring stakeholders from the Environmental Management Authority

(EMA); the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs; and the Quarry Association of Trinidad

and Tobago all spoke on the issue stressing the damaging impacts of quarry operations on

the water resources of the country.

Participants all agreed that the stakeholder meeting and follow-up meetings are crucial in

developing partnerships, with relevant organisations working towards the achievement of

the desired quarry legislation.

Follow-up Actions:

Participants were asked to complete and submit quarry information forms. This

information is to be used to populate the Water Resources Agency’s (WRA’s) Quarry

Database.

Quarry stakeholder meetings are to be held in other areas of Trinidad and Tobago

where there are extensive quarry operations that are having a debilitating impact on

the natural environment.

The Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs; the Environmental Management

Authority (EMA); the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA); the Quarry

Association of Trinidad and Tobago; and other stakeholders are to consult on the

development operational standards for the Quarry industry. This is expected to

reduce the impact of industry on the receiving natural environment.

GWP-C Inspires Rainwater Harvesting Booth at International Building Expo in Guyana

Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), the national supplier of water and sanitation services in

Guyana

and long-standing partner of Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) decided to

focus its participation at the 2011 International Building Expo on educating thousands of

Guyanese about the benefits of rainwater harvesting as a means of water conservation.

Guyana’s International Building Expo was held for the second year on July 29th-31st, 2011

following the success of the first Expo held in 2010. The Building Expo was born out of a

19

partnership between the Government of Guyana in particular the Ministry of Housing and

Water and the Central Housing and Planning Authority and the Private Sector as a means

of expanding the building and construction sectors as well as responding to the housing

and construction needs of the country.

GWI’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Timothy Austin explained that the concept of GWI’s

rainwater harvesting booth at the event was taken from GWP-C’s public education work

involving building regional awareness on rainwater harvesting and its benefits.

Mr. Austin expressed that the utility company wants to create more awareness about the

need for rainwater harvesting in the current ‚climatic conditions‛ in Guyana and will be

seeking to not only create awareness about the type of water conservation but also invoke a

new culture in the Guyanese public.

GWI aimed to push the message that rainwater harvesting must be done carefully and must

follow specific guidelines and best practices to ensure that the quality of the water stored is

not compromised.

In emphasising this message, the GWI booth contained educational material including

brochures, pamphlets, posters and other forms of information to provide all visitors to the

booth with enough knowledge on the core subject area. GWI included the GWP-C logo on

all promotional material used in their booth. They also utilised some of GWP-C’s material

on rainwater harvesting such as posters and leaf-lets. The GWI booth was very interactive

with the company’s customer service agents available at the booth to answer any questions

and queries visitors may have had about their service or billing system.

The Rainwater Harvesting section of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) booth at

Guyana’s 2011 International Building Exposition.

Cross-section of some of

the Rainwater Harvesting

booklets on display in the

Guyana Water

Incorporated (GWI) booth

at Guyana’s 2011

International Building

Exposition.

20

GWI’s Public Relations Officer explained that the organisation has witnessed the consistent

increase in demand for water in both existing and new housing and commercial areas. Thus

in responding to that demand, GWI seeks t continue to improve its service while at the same

time underscoring the important role consumers play in paying their bills on time and

safeguarding the scarce water resource.

The 2011 Expo like the first held in the previous year, successfully brought together a host

of local, regional and international stakeholders within and outside of the building and

construction sector. The GWI booth was one of more than 100 booths at the Building Expo

which included 15 foreign (regional and international) companies. Moreover, the event saw

an estimated number of 50,000 visitors with a noted number of foreign participants over the

three-day period.

GWI Hosts Summer Water Education Programme for Children

Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) hosted a special Summer Water Education Programme

and tour for a group of fifty (50) children at one of its Water Treatment Plants on August

17th, 2011. The Summer Water Education Programme forms part of the organisation’s

National School Education Programme on Water Conservation called ‚H2O Kids ‘N’ Action.‛

Some of the participants of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Summer Water

Education Programme.

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The ‚H2O Kids ‘N’ Action‛ Programme targets children ages 7-9 years and has been a

tremendous success for GWI as they continue to receive positive feedback from schools and

Parent/Teacher Associations. The Summer Water Education Programme shares in the same

success and is specifically aimed at teaching kids about water conservation and encouraging

them to spread the message.

GWI stressed the message of being ‚water-wise‛ in the Programme as the Summer period

(July to August) is seen as a hot weather period and there is a significant increase in water

use by consumers during that time.

The Summer Water Education Programme was also aimed at educating the children on the

water purification process utilised by GWI and the vast amount of energy used for

distribution. The children were also engaged in interactive activities which highlighted

effective water conservation methods and their role in combating the global water crisis.

Follow-up Actions:

GWI’s ‚H2O Kids ‘N’ Action‛ School Programme will resume as schools open their

doors again in September 2011.

GWI plans to improve on its current National School Education Programme ‚H2O

Kids ‘N’ Action‛ to incorporate how water wastage can severely affect the operations

of the company and contribute to the global water crisis.

New GWP-C Partners

GWP-C welcomes two (2) new partners this month. These organisations include:

1. The Toco Foundation - The Toco Foundation is a non-governmental organisation

(NGO) based in Trinidad which seeks to influence the communities it serves by

providing comprehensive educational services in the areas of literacy, computer

science, communications and health. The organisation offers a range of personal

development services; sector focused economic development as well as

environmental preservation programming.

Some of the Toco Foundation’s main activities include: operating a community radio

station; operating a Hospitality and Training Centre; operating a turtle conservation

programme; operating a parenting outreach programme; developing a rainwater

harvesting programme for the northeast region of Trinidad; among other activities.

22

2. N.V.B. Stichting Nationale Vrouwen Beweging (National Women’s Movement) -

The Nationale Vrouwen Beweging (National Women's Movement) is a non-

governmental organisation (NGO) based in Suriname. The organisation's

programme activities are focused in the areas of economic empowerment; capacity

building of women's organisations, legal aid; housing; and health.

The National Women’s Movement is the coordinator of the National Steering Group

on Water, Sanitation and Waste Management in Suriname and has implemented

several projects/programmes on drinking water and sanitation; as well as activities

based on strengthening and development of local communities and organisations

especially with and for women in least developed areas in the interior of Suriname.

The organisation strives to share ideas and knowledge on raising awareness,

promoting the necessity and importance of drinking water, sanitation, good hygiene

and good waste management.

Coming Events

7th High Level Session (HLS) Ministerial Forum of GWP-C

Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) will host its 7th High Level Session (HLS) for

Caribbean Ministers with responsibility for Water in Guadeloupe on October 6th and 7th,

2011. This year the 7th HLS will focus on ‘Water Management Financing in the Caribbean:

Pricing, Efficiency, Equity and Sustainability.’

CENTRAL AMERICA

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

Preparatory Workshops for the World Water Forum in Central America

Four preparatory processes - thematic, political, regional, and

root´s/citizen´s - of the World Water Forum will coordinate their

activities to prepare and facilitate the implementation of solutions to

the identified priorities for action.

(http://www.worldwaterforum6.org/index.php?id=5)

In the American continent, the entity that is coordinating the process is the Water Forum of

the Americas, and GWP CAM has been an active participant in this group.

GWP CAM is co-coordinating with OAS the ‚Governance and

IWRM group‛. As part of this role GWP CAM has been

organizing the workshop on this topic that is going to be held

GWP CAM and the 6th

World Water Forum: GWP CAM is also part of the Water and Climate Change group. View statement GWP CAM has been helping to organize the workshop on “Governance for IWRM”, which is a priority in the Mexico City event. View info І View

Mexico event info.

http://www.d4wcc.org.mx/images/documentos/Dialogo_regional/1a_comunicacin_grupo_de_agua_y_cambio_climtico_del_wfa.pdfhttp://www.d4wcc.org.mx/images/documentos/Dialogo_regional/1a_comunicacin_grupo_de_agua_y_cambio_climtico_del_wfa.pdfhttp://www.gwpcentroamerica.org/info/tallerFMA/http://www.conagua.gob.mx/Contenido.aspx?id=b18e1511-3a8d-4445-a54b-9be2a3d835ab|English%20Version|0|0|0|115|0http://www.conagua.gob.mx/Contenido.aspx?id=b18e1511-3a8d-4445-a54b-9be2a3d835ab|English%20Version|0|0|0|115|0

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in Mexico (7th and 8th of September), as well as preparing and implementing the work plan

of this thematic group.

In the past three months, GWP CAM in coordination with the Freshwater Action Network

(FANCA), have been organizing workshops with the support of the Country Partnerships of

Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, to explain the

preparatory process and the thematic priorities for the region. The workshops have been

held in each country and with the participation of the members of each Country Partnership

and other organizations related to water management. [Photos below: (left) Guatemala,

(right) El Salvador] View photos Honduras

The participants have been able to contribute their ideas and experiences in the following

thematic priorities, which have been chosen out of the six priorities for their relevance to the

Central America region: 1) Water services and integrated sanitation; 2) Water and climate

change adaptation; 3) Governance for IWRM; and 4) Water and ecosystems services.

The results of the workshops will help clarify key messages and identify successful

experiences and solutions that will contribute to the Forum and will be shared in the

“Workshops of the Americas’ Target and Solutions Groups” in Mexico City (September 7-

8), one more step towards Marseille.

The workshops’ specific objectives are:

• To involve in this process a greater number of relevant stakeholders, both from the

water community and those that are outside the ‚water box‛;

• To share experiences, information and knowledge, to jointly identify solutions that

support the achievement of the targets that have been defined;

• To integrate the region’s different thematic priorities, to thus initiate the

conformation of a regional position from the Americas for future events and

processes, in particular the 6th World Water Forum.

General Assembly of GWP Central America [08.11]

The GWP Central America General

Assembly meeting was held in Tegucigalpa,

Honduras on the 3rd and 4th of August. The

main objective for the meeting was to

promote the discussion of specific actions in

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.218993418149139.50753.134385219943293

24

the region for the implementation of IWRM, as well as the presentation of the activities and

financial reports.

Members from the seven Central American countries participated, as well as a special guest

from Belize and Gabriela Grau, GWP Senior Network Officer. The agenda included the

presentation of the activities reports per country and the presentation and discussion of

specific cases in the region in regards to IWRM and governance, risk management and

financial mechanisms. At the end of the meeting, the regional presidency was passed on

from El Salvador to Costa Rica - the current regional chair pro-tempore is Maureen

Ballestero, GWP Costa Rica. View photos І View official photos

On the last day, the participants visited a cloud forest that is a national park and one of the

city´s main providers of clean water for Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. View photos

Cent

ral

Ame

rican

Strat

egy

of

Inte

grate

d

Wate

r

Reso

urces Management close to adoption [06.11]

The Strategy is a breakthrough and will be a strategic tool for IWRM in the region for the

next ten years. GWP CAM has accompanied the revision process since 2003 and more

recently in the harmonization work carried out during 2009. In June the final draft of

ECAGIRH was sent to the Ministries of Environment of Central America for their review.

Latin American Network of Knowledge Centers in the Water Sector (RALCEA) [06.11]

Two members of GWP CAM were chosen to be part of the Network of Knowledge Centers

in the Water Sector. They are: the Center for the Investigation of Water Resources of the

University of Nicaragua (CIRA-UNAN) and the Zamorano Agricultural University

(Zamorano)

Country Partnership Meetings: Panama (06.07.11)

The meeting was held in Panama with the participation of all the members. Besides discussing the reports, the Inter-institutional Commission for the Hydrographic Watershed institution was re-elected for two more years of presidency.

Country Partnership Meetings: Honduras (06.16.11)

In this meeting, besides the presentation of the activities and financial reports, the participants identified the main challenges for water resources in the country, for the coming years. Specifically, the General Water Law and the financing of water resources were discussed. Government officials were also present.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.217139715001176.50496.134385219943293&l=2e1723c9f3&type=1http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwpcam/http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.217497248298756.50551.134385219943293&l=761eeb0490&type=1http://www.cira-unan.edu.ni/http://www.zamorano.edu/english/

25

RALCEA is a EuropeAid project and has the main objective of fostering information based

policy and to promote south-south cooperation on capacity development in the water sector

by supporting the development of a network of knowledge centers.

“Water Management” in the Master Plan for the

Pacaya National Park in Guatemala [06.15.11]

GWP CAM was invited to contribute ideas for the

water management component of the master plan for

the Pacaya Volcano National Park that is currently

being updated. Fabiola Tábora, GWP Central America´s

Executive Secretary, visited the park last June and met

with National Forest Institute of Guatemala to suggest

ways to incorporate IWRM in the document.

GWP Panama active in the implementation of their IWRM-SD Plan [06.07.11]

GWP Panamá has organized activities in June, as stipulated in their IWRM - Sustainable

Development Plan for the Panama Canal Watershed, which is meant to improve the quality

of life of the communities around the Canal watershed.

One of the events was organized by the National

Environment Authority and the Canal Watershed

Authority, in which local water committees

participated in the reforestation of an area in the Canal

Watershed.

A second activity was the maintenance of community

aqueducts (wells) that provide water to various

communities in the Canal watershed. The technical support for this activity was provided by

governmental entities and the participants were local committees.

GWP El Salvador participates in the dialogue towards the Water Policy and Water

Resources Law [07.11]

As part of the process of elaboration of the Water Policy

and Law the Ministry of Environment of El Salvador,

has been hosting consultation meetings with the civil

society to revise and improve the actual drafts.

GWP El Salvador has been an active participant of these

dialogues, which have been held since the beginning of

this year and should be completed by the end of this

year (2011). This would be the first time that a legal

document is produced in consultation with the civil society and is another step towards

reforming the water sector in the country.

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/latin-america/regional-cooperation/ralcea/index_en.htm

26

Workshop in Honduras for the consolidation of Payment for Environmental Services

(PES) [07.06.11]

This activity was promoted by GWP Honduras to

promote the implementation of environmental

compensation mechanisms, such as the Payment for

Environmental Services (PES) that is mentioned in the

national legislation; specifically PES is mentioned in

the National Water Law, the Forest Law and the Law

for the National Plan 2010-2022 as a way to finance the

conservation of water and biodiversity.

Representatives of the government, academia, private sector and civil society participated in

the different discussion topics in regard to PES.

The event was organized in coordination with Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation, as

well as the Ministry of Environment and the Forestry Conservation Institute.

Workshop on Financing Water with members of GWP Guatemala [07.08.11

GWP Guatemala organized a workshop for the members and other interested organizations

with the objective of introducing financial mechanisms for the management of water

resources and to present cases in the country on the topic. The chair of GWP Honduras,

Sergio Nuñez, an experienced economist, was invited to this event to introduce the

conceptual framework on this topic.

National Forum in Panama on Ecological Flow Regulation [07.22.11]

GWP Panama participated in the National Forum on

Ecological Flow Regulation that was organized by the

Technological University of Panama this past July.

An expert from the University of Valladolid, Spain was

invited to present case studies in advanced eco-

hydraulic models used in the restoration and

conservation of rivers and riverbanks, evaluation of

environmental impacts, the betterment of river

habitats, and ecological requirements of the river flow.

The forum was a valuable opportunity to improve the analysis of the hydro-ecological

conditions of flow systems in Panama, through comparison tools that are adaptable to each

local case.

National Forum in Nicaragua on the Nicaragua Lake and San Juan River Watershed

[07.29.11]

27

This event was co-organized by GWP Nicaragua, National Water Authority and the

National University of Nicaragua. Participants from different sectors, including government

and local municipalities, among others, participated in the event in which the potential for

the use of water resources of the lake and river was discussed. Another topic of discussion

was the conservation of the watershed and a statement was issued by the participants in

relation to the degradation of the lake watershed. The statement mentions that although the

country has a legal framework that protects the area there is a lack of implementation and

urges the National Water Authority to lead a project to formulate an integrated plan for the

management of the lake and river.

New Local Water Systems Network in Costa Rica [07.30.11]

In Costa Rica, local water committees provide potable water for 20% of the homes in the

country. GWP Costa Rica has identified this area as priority and was present for the first

meeting of a new Local Water Systems Network in Costa Rica. More than 50 representatives

of the different areas of Costa Rica participated in this event. This network is exclusive to

local water committees and is meant to set the bases for a national union of local water

systems.

Coordination Platform established in Honduras to manage the Rio Tulián Basin [08.08.11]

With the support of GWP Honduras, a coordination platform

was established to manage the Tulián River Basin. The river is

the main water provider for the nearby city of Puerto Cortes.

The objective of the meeting was to establish an action and

coordination mechanism to resolve the conflicts on the use of

the water from the river and to increase the quality and

quantity of water as it is stipulated in the National Water

Law. The meeting was successful and an agreement was

produced.

The mayors from the three main municipalities around the watershed were present, as well

as representatives of congress, ministries of natural resources, national agriculture institute,

and the national army.

International Forum for Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities for a Sustainable

Coffee Culture

GWP El Salvador supported this regional event

which was organized by the Asociación 4C. There

was a vast participation of private sector,

academia, nongovernmental organizations,

financial institutions and civil society. The agenda

included the discussion the effect of climate

change in the coffee sector, with best practices and

round table dialogues on possible solutions. Other

topics such as; the definition of the Central

http://www.4c-coffeeassociation.org/en/association.php?PHPSESSID=lr7mm7jboriijh77kdqlguolc1

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America Agenda for Coffee and Climate Change, adaptation and mitigation strategies,

financial mechanisms and next step agreements, were discussed.

GWP CAM in GWP Consulting Partners Meeting

[08.18-19.11]

This year GWP CAM nominated three members to

take part in the GWP Consulting Partners Meeting

held in Stockholm. Representatives from Guatemala,

El Salvador and Panama participated in the event, as

well as the Regional Chair (who is from Costa Rica).

A special mention goes to Aracelis Arosemena, GWP

Panama, for presenting a case study on the food

security and water in her country.

‚As a region, it [the CP] is an opportunity to compare our work favorably and to reaffirm that the

path we are taking is correct. We can also see that we are like other regions, we find many challenges,

but with support and exchanges like this one, it is possible to overcome them.‛ – René Estuardo

Barreno, GWP Guatemala

‚I think that the meeting was very important and key to deepening the understanding of the global

processes and actions needed to meet the challenges of water security and food security, which GWP´s

undertaking.‛ – Julio Quiñonez, GWP El Salvador

"For me the experience was very positive, because it allowed me to better understand the issues

around water resources in the different countries and their efforts to achieve appropriate water

management." – Aracelis Arosemena, GWP Panama

GWP Central America in World Water Week [08.24.11]

The chair of Fundación Vida, Marcial Solís, participated in the Latin American and

Caribbean panel on Water and Climate Change in World Water Week. Mr. Solis presented

an illustrative case on rain water harvesting in the dry areas of Honduras. View PDF

Fundación Vida is member of GWP Honduras, and host institution for GWP Central America.

COMING UP:

“Workshops of the Americas’ Target and Solutions Groups” in Mexico City, September 7-

8.

GWP CAMin coordination with the other organizations that are part of the Water Forum of

the Americas have agreed the realization ofthese workshops to support the process ofr the

thematic priorities of the World Water Forum Marseille 2012. The workshops will focus on

http://www.worldwaterweek.org/documents/WWW_PDF/2011/Wednesday/T3/Focus-Latin-America-and-the-Caribbean-Americas-Regional-Panel-on-Water-and-Climate-Change/Droughts.pdf

29

the 6 thematic priorities identified for the Americas (Water and sanitation, climate change,

IWRM and governance, Water and ecosystems,water and food and water and energy). .

Conference on Regional Development, Water and Climate Change in San Salvador,

September 22-23.

GWP CAMin coordination with the Central American Commission on Environment and

Development (CCAD), IUCN and the Central America Bank of Economic Integration (BCIE),

is organizing an event with the participation of government officials and decision makers,

with the idea to provide a multisectorial forum for dialogue on water, development and

climate change, for the region.

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

GWP Estonia organised joint seminar with Muhu Municipality of Saare County in West-

Estonia under the title ‚Water management in the rural areas of small islands‛ on 10 June.

During the seminar, 4 were presented and a field trip was organized to water treatment

facility.

GWP Estonia host institute Estonian Water Association takes the lead on the technical

aspects of various initiatives for better water management actions. The member of Estonian

Water Association Arno Ilves prepared materials for publication ‚The manual of waste-

water treatment for personal households in rural areas.‛ The members of Estonian Water

Association participated in the process of environmental impact assessment on the local,

regional and national level, presenting opinions and recommendations about different

projects and master plans.

On 26-28 July Bernardas Paukstys, Chair of GWP Lithuania participated in the all-Russian

conference on ‚Sustainability of water bodies in catchments and coastal territories; risks of

their use‛. The conference was held on 25-30 July in Svetlogorsk, Kaliningrad Oblast. More

than 100 participants from different regions of Russia took part in the conference. Bernardas

Paukstys made a presentation in Russian language "River Basin Management in Lithuania".

Invitation to the conference was an outcome of the previous stakeholder meeting on 18 May

initiated by SIWI. A quote from the organizer - ‚the presentation was a very good

demonstration to Russian participants, particularly those from Moscow, how water

resources should be manager‚.

GWP Moldova is involved in the activities under United Nations Development Assistance

Framework (UNDAF) for Moldova, aimed at the development of the integrated

management of the UN resources in order to promote sustainable development in the

country. In this context GWP Moldova participates in the development and planning of

measures aimed to the adaptation of social and economic development to climate change. In

the frame of this activity a plan for development of the flood protected infrastructure was

proposed to be included in the plans of UN activities in Moldova for the period till 2020.

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During reported period a number of field trips were organized in order to evaluate the state

of flood protected dams and in cooperation with the ACVAPROIECT institute relevant

proposals on the improvement of the flood protected measures were submitted to

governmental authorities. Evaluation of the floodplains was organized in cooperation with

local authorities in the whole territory of the country. In the future, proposals on

improvement of the flood protection infrastructure will be submitted to the governmental

institutions for financing in the frame of the allocations presumed for the financial year 2011.

Proposals to the UNDAF program are developed in cooperation with National Commission

of the Republic of Moldova for UNESCO.

Another region for development of planning documents aimed at development of the

planning documents for water infrastructure is Moldavian part of the Lower Danube region

covering an area of around 4700 sq.km. GWP Moldova participates in the trilateral project

aimed at development of local plan for the use of the floodplain resources and to assess

vulnerability of the region to the climate change. In this context an analysis of the land use in

the region was performed together with assessment of the state of water resources. On the

base of that a regional workshop agenda was developed. International workshop on

sustainable use of floodplain resources with representatives from Ukraine, Romania and

Hungary is slated for middle of October.

GWP Moldova has prepared a report on the accumulation of the superficial runoff in

different functional zones of the capital town – Chisinau. On the base of this study a

proposal for the renovation of the pluvial system was developed and submitted to the

magistrate according to the provisions of the Local Environmental Action Plan for the town

of Chisinau developed by GWP Moldova in 2010 in cooperation with the Academy of

Sciences of Moldova and local municipal authorities. Results are used for the renovation of

the pluvial system in the lower part of the Bic River in the limits of the capital town.

Outcome: Methodology for such study is used for the development of the pluvial system in

other parts of the town.

Regional conference on the Danube Strategy was organized by GWP Moldova in

cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and the Academy of Sciences of Moldova in

the Lower Prut region (Cahul Town). In the frame of this activity participants of the

workshop presented their views and visions on the implementation of the Danube Strategy

in Moldavian part of the Danube river basin. They also identified main challenges in

implementation of this document and outlined necessity in attraction of best water

management practices from European Union to Moldova. In this context, GWP Moldova

presented to local communities opportunities for financing relevant activities from local and

regional sources. The event attracted 70 participants. In total, two projects for Lower Prut

region dam’s restoration were prepared and submitted to national authorities.

GWP Moldova organized a number of meetings aimed at the development of the

monitoring system in the Moldavian part of the Danube delta in cooperation with Romanian

and Ukrainian partners. In the frame of these activities a situation analysis report on

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hydromorphological alteration, estimation of pollution loads, public participation etc for

performing of the project objectives in the Moldavian part of the Danube Delta was

developed.

Outcome: report on hydromorphological alterations in the Moldavian part of the Lower

Danube region developed.

GWP Moldova in cooperation with National Commission of the Republic of Moldova for

UNESCO and NGO Biotica organized regional conferences on development of tourist

activities and creation of the biosphere reserve were organized in cooperation with the. Total

three events were organized in northern, central and southern parts of the country. Around

130 participants took part in the events. Main results of the conferences and studies

performed in the frame of activities aimed at creation of the biosphere areas in Moldova

were presented on the EUROMAB session in July 2011 in Sweden.

Outcome: Creation of the network of biosphere areas is recognized as a priority for the

nature protection activity by central environmental authorities.

GWP Moldova discussed sustainable sanitation issues during consultation meetings with

local rural authorities. On the base of the discussions a case-study from the asylum for

retired people was prepared and presented to the meeting in the frame of the Water and

Health Protocol. Experience obtained in the preparing of the case-study was also presented

in other regions of Moldova during consultation meetings with local authorities for

extension of the network of social care in regard to drinking water supply and sanitation.

Outcome: development of sustainable sanitation facilities in the social care activities

(hospitals, asylums, schools etc) will be continued in different parts of Moldova

GWP Moldova organized a Danube Day event with participation of more that 200 people in

the Cahul town located in the Lower part of the Prut river basin.

GWP Moldova also participated in the Civil Society Forum for the Danube river countries

organized by Esterhazy Foundation in June 2011 in Austria. GWP Moldova is now involved

in activities of Danube Civil Society Forum in Environment and Climate Change Working

Group. GWP Moldova also cooperates with relevant Universities from the basin on climate

change issues.

GWP Romania had discussions with Dr Jurgen Raizner from German company Steinbies

Innovationszentrum on possible financing of sustainable sanitation project implementation

in one of the villages. Experts trained within GWP CEE sustainable sanitation training

course can assist in the project preparation.

GWP Romania in cooperation with new Consulting Partner Administration of Danube

Delta Reserved and Protected Area (ARBDD) and Ministry of Environment and Forest

prepared, edited and finally printed new educational book of Children Encyclopaedia series

‚The fauna from Biosphere Protected Area Danube Delta‛. It was launched during Danube

32

Day celebration. Target group of the book are teachers who can use it during education

process.

GWP Romania and National Administration ‚Apele Romane‛(NAAR) finalized the second

volume for public information (a brochure for the public), on the aims of River Basin

Management Plans from Romania(RBMP) in accordance with Water Framework Directive

2000/60/EU. The brochure was launched Danube Day celebration.

On 23 June GWP Romania has participated to an important event in the Expo Complex in

Bucharest dedicated to the ‚Danube and Delta 2011‛, which was organized as an expo of

different stakeholders and partners of ARBDD and a session for consultation and

discussions on the main priorities identified for this area within the Danube Region Strategy.

The discussion were focused on transport, tourism, environment protection, rural

development and life improvement for its inhabitants, communication and informatics

technologies extended use, culture, education and research and having also as invites the

business community and non-governmental representatives.

On 28 June GWP Romania was invited to participate and to become member of newly

created Consultative Council for Administration of Danube Delta Protected Area (DD-

CCA). In the first meeting for creation of CCA were invited to be part representatives of

local authorities from this area, different stakeholders from economical units from the

Danube Delta area, mayors and local councils representatives from towns and villages,

Scientists knowing the specificities of DD and also non-governmental organizations acting

in the fields like water management, services, professionals of specific activities from

Danube Delta area. GWP Romania has suggested during this first meeting to get acceptance

of the IWRM principles application in the Danube Delta Protected Area as well as within the

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water resources use. This proposal was then included in CCA Governance Rules. Danube

Delta is the largest delta in Europe and one of the largest in the word with its 580,800

hectares and unique because of it provides habitat for more than 7,000 unique fauna species.

It is part of Biosphere Protected Areas, a network of UN Protected Areas.

On 26 August GWP Romania has participated to the Conference on the project presentation

‚Future ICT – Innovation Accelerator ‚organized by EUROLINK – House of Europe

Foundation. The aim of Conference was the presentation of project goals and objectives and

the creation of a Working Group to act within the project duration and analyze / facilitate

and monitor the flagship Projects that will be run from Romania within the Danube Region

Strategy. From this Working Group point of view a very important message was detached

as result of European Union recommendation in its 2020 Strategy and this was that the R/D

& Innovation needs to grow. Future ICT seeks to revolutionize support for advance decision

making in the face of complexity by driving shifts in ICT to enable larger scale simulations

even at planetary level, of our social system, powered by massive real time data and all this

in order to enhance prospects for international cooperation and a sustainable future.

On 29 June in Galati town was celebrated the Danube Day 2011 under the topic ‚Get active

for the rivers‛. The events were organized by the local NGO Ecological Consultancy Center

and in partnership with GWP Romania. Nearby them were also the following supporters,

Regional Agency for Environment Protection Galati, Nature Science Museum, Water

Management System (SGA) Galati, Prut- Barlad Basin Directorate Iasi, and a number of

schools that have also participated in the Danube Art Master contest coordinated at national

level. A detailed report is available in the associated folder to this report including also

pictures from the event. A diploma was awarded to GWP Romania for its long lasting and

effective support in the Danube Day 2011 celebration.

Danube Day 2011 celebration in Galati. Credit: Liviu Nicolae Popescu

During 13-15 June in Bucharest at the Palace of Parliament 13th edition of EXPOAPA was

organized by the Romanian Water Association and within this event a number of 74

company have exposed there technologies and also technological solutions for water

treatment and supply of settlements of different size and also different and multiple

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technical solution for Waste water treatment. 6 territorial centers of ARA plus the Hydro-

technical Faculty have also exposed there activities and applied solutions. A number of

scientific sessions took part in 3 special dedicated conferences halls. Based on our long time

partnership and good relation GWP Romania was also invited and attended like in the

previous years to the expo opening official visits and some of the session connected with the

issues that are matters of GWP vision, mission and Strategy. With this occasion the GWP

publications were also made available to the present companies’ technicians and also to

many visitors. One important issues that was discussed in the scientific session dedicated to

Danube Region Strategy, was the announcement of an important project in which the theme

is the creation of a International Center for Advanced Studies (ICAS) as an Scientific

International Platform and having a Framework Programme dedicated to scientific

assistance and monitoring during and after the Danube Region Strategy flagship projects

will be implemented within the Lower Danube/ Danube Delta space and Black Sea coasts. In

this session the GWP- Romania has proposed to have as a basis for all projects dedicated to

Danube Region Strategy the application of IWRM principles and in order to have that the

ICAS should be very familiar with them. In those conditions the GWP Romania was

proposed to be part of the ICAS Scientific Council, the proposal being accepted.

GWP Slovenia joined the discussion on the appropriateness of building new housing

settlement in a flood risky location in a part of Ljubljana city. There exists also a risk of over

reduction of soil permeability as a result of new buildings, which would reach three floors

below the surface. Moreover, the area is already congested due to traffic noise and air

pollution. The problem is poorly prepared report on the impact on the environment, which

was done without taking into account the essential information that is partly missing and

partly old. Data obtained during the flood last year in this part of Ljubljana were not

considered, probably because this would not make possible a positive decision in favor of

the investment. The inhabitants themselves are too poorly informed to make appropriate

and timely appropriate revolt to the pressures of capital.

Richard Muller, Communication Officer participated in ICPDR Youth Programme

Workshop organized by International Commission for the Protection for the Danube Rive

(ICPDR) in cooperation with the Danube Competence Centre (DCC). The workshop was

held on the ship ‚MS Elegant Lady‛ traveling from Belgrade to Vienna on 27-29 June. It

brought together 25 representatives from ten Danube River Basin countries from different

sectors - teachers, representatives of ministries, water authorities, NGOs, museums, youth

organizations and nature protection administration. In addition, DDC tourism workshop

was held on the ship, which allowed informal discussions during lunches and dinners with

20 more people. The importance of in-situ programmes was emphasised by all participants.

Furthermore, it became clear that the children and teenagers are to be reached were they

stand, highlighting the importance of influencing and strengthening the work of teachers

and formal educators (in class and outdoors). Teachers and educators have to be supported

with training and tools that will allow them to obtain more practical skills (such as

innovative teaching methods). Existing networks, such as Eco-schools, UNESCO schools,

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Green School/NGO Zivica, Generation Blue or teacher’s organisations can be instrumental in

supporting implementation of new projects and initiatives.

ICPDR youth programmes workshop. Credit: Richard