We are thrilled to welcome you to the first quarterly edition of the Cooperation in International Waters in Africa Program (CIWA) Bulletin. You will learn about inspiring efforts that are underway on transboundary water cooperation in Africa. You will also find the latest news about CIWA’s role assisting riparian governments in strengthening climate resilience through cooperative water resources development and management, and about opportunities to join CIWA’s efforts.
We invite you to learn more about our program activities in our English and/or French website and to interact with us through Twitter for more information and exciting stories across Africa.Warm regards, Erwin De Nys and Ai-Ju Huang.
IN FOCUS: CIWA GENDER CAMPAIGN
What’s making a splash
Learn About CIWA in a Short Video
Would you like to know more about CIWA? Watch our Identity Video to understand how CIWA contributes to transboundary water management and cooperation in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Building Climate Resilience
Interested in finding ways to reverse ecosystem degradation? Watch our video on how we are helping institutions and communities plan better, and to be swift in responding to natural occurrences.
Harnessing Lake Chad's Potential
Interested in the role of knowledge in resilience building? Watch our video on how we are supporting LCBC to generate, share and manage knowledge for sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient growth.
CIWA Annual Report
Download our Annual Report FY 20 and take a look at the achievements the program has catalyzed in Sub-Saharan Africa. The report is available in English and French.
COVID-19 Response
Learn how the Bank's emergency support operations is helping over 100 developing countries save lives and detect, prevent, and respond to the pandemic.
After Pandemic, Put Women First
Read the thought provoking blog by Melinda Gates and David Malpass that urges leaders to put women at the center of the strategy while rebuilding post-pandemic economies.
What's new in transboundary waters and beyond
Towards a More Sustainable Future in the Sahel Region
In the Sahel, the Bank is focusing on Climate, by transforming agriculture; People, by investing in human capital and women's and girls' empowerment; and Infrastructure, by developing connectivity. (Blog by Axel van Trotsenburg)
ENTRO new Executive Director assumes office
Dr Salih Hamad Hamid Omer (Sudan) has assumed his tenure as ENTRO Executive Director. He has extensive experience in Nile Basin water resources issues. (Story by Nile Basin Initiative)
Transboundary water cooperation a key way to achieve SDG 6
Water scarcity and pollution is increasing worldwide as a result of the rising economic demands for water, population growth and rapid urbanization. Read more on why transboundary cooperation is key to achieve SDG 6. (Story by UNECE)
PRO-WASH webinar on Operation and Maintenance of WASH infrastructure (Free!)
This four-part series will share lessons learned from USAID partners on innovative advances in operation and maintenance (O&M) of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. (Story by USAID and SADC-GMI)
WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA
Enhancing Niger Basin’s Ecosystem through Modeling and Improved Decision Making
Managing water resources and sharing the benefits is vital for development of the Niger Basin region. CIWA is working with the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) and supporting governments to improve water resources development and sustainable management of the Basin, including finding ways to reverse its ecosystem degradation.
Comprehensive Understanding of Water Resources Helps to Preserve Lake Chad
Lake Chad is the fourth largest lake in Africa. Read our blog on how we are promoting an evidence-based approach to help arrive at decisions around shared water resources in this basin. These decisions alleviate poverty, build climate resilience, and mitigate fragility, conflict, and violence while protecting and preserving the precious resources.
EAST AFRICA
Nile Day 2021: Rethinking Regional Investments in the Nile Basin
NBI in collaboration with the government of Uganda commemorated the Nile Day 2021 on February, 22. The Nile Day provides an opportunity for Basin citizens and friends of the Nile to come together to celebrate the benefits of Nile cooperation and to exchange experiences, views and ideas on topical issues related to the cooperative management and development of the common Nile Basin water.
Nile Day 2021: NBI and NBD Sign a 5 Year Partnership (MOU)
A 5 year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NBI and NBD. The MOU was signed during the Nile Day 2021 celebrations. It is effective from 2021 – 2025 and reaffirms the collective responsibility and common goal of both parties to work towards improving the livelihoods of the people of the River Nile Basin.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
SADC-GMI Success Stories Book on Importance of Groundwater Launched
The stories in this book aim to convey the importance of groundwater and interventions implemented by the SADC-GMI from 2016-2020.
Sustainable Groundwater Access Can Build Resilience Among Mozambicans
Groundwater used sustainably can provide potable water to an estimated 40% of SADC inhabitants currently lacking access to safe drinking water and sanitation services.
Save the date for these upcoming events
Ready to 'WOW'? Register for the Water Online Week!
Mark your calendars for March 22-26 and register for the Water Online Week organized by the Water GP, GWSP and 2030 WRG. Themed, ‘Water, Climate, Action,’ this forum will showcase best practices that advance the agenda in water for health, water for economic delivery and jobs, and water for climate transitions – in energy, cities, transport and food systems.CIWA’s social media engagement
Approximately 60% of #Somalia is arid or semi-arid with uneven & irregular availability of water resources. To address this, #CIWAprogram provides support to the Government of Somalia on water resources development options for Juba & Shebelle basins. pic.twitter.com/beWDLr9AYl
— Erwin De Nys (@ErwinDeNys1) February 10, 2021
Join us for the launch of the Southern Africa Drought Resilience Initiative (SADRI) to learn about SADRI and other related efforts to build #droughtresilience in the region https://t.co/G8EUypi0Sg | February 25 | with @IWMI_ @FAO @UNCCD @WorldBankWater
— Maria A Sotomayor (@masotomayor) February 24, 2021