Page 75 - CIWA AR25

Communications

Views from the Field: Human Impact Storytelling Digital Engagement and Social Media Impact

In the first half of 2025, CIWA published several blogs in its “View CIWA’s social media presence significantly expanded throughout

from the Field” series to showcase the human impact of the FY25, with campaigns generating substantial engagement. Key
program’s work, illuminating how CIWA’s initiatives are making campaigns included:
tangible differences in communities across Africa.
• Nile Day Celebrations: Highlighting 12 years of CIWA and
Key stories from this period included: NBI cooperation supporting more than 250 million people
who live in the Nile Basin.
Protecting the Cubango‑Okavango River Basin: Tracy Molefi,

program coordinator at OKACOM, and her colleagues are • International Women’s Day: Emphasizing gender equality
determined to promote sustainable development and management investments for better transboundary water management
of the Cubango-Okavango River Basin while improving community across Africa.
livelihoods.
• World Water Day: Featuring climate-resilient irrigation,
transboundary cooperation, and financing for water initiatives.

Groundwater Research and Management: The work of researchers
such as Mmasechaba Lebogang Moropane, who is detecting and
mapping groundwater-dependent invasive species in the Western LOOKING FORWARD:
Cape province of South Africa, and hydrologists such as Landing
Strategic Events and Partnerships
Bojang, chief hydrologist advocating for enhanced groundwater
protection in the Senegalo-Mauritanian Aquifer Basin, are focused The communications strategy positioned CIWA for future
on encouraging the sustainable use of groundwater. engagement through participation in major international events,
including World Water Week in August 2025 focusing on “Water for
Minimizing conflict in the Horn of Africa borderlands: Igbal Salah, Climate Action” and the International Conference on Water, Peace,

a hydrologist at IGAD, is doing her part to calm conflict in the HoA and Security in October 2025, examining water as a catalyst for
by working with CIWA on its Untapping Resilience: Groundwater peace and cooperation.
Management and Learning in the Horn of Africa’s Borderlands
initiative and the related World Bank GW4R program. The communications program continues to show that
effective transboundary water cooperation requires not only
Involving communities in water resources management: Sylvester technical solutions and financial investments, but also strategic

Matemu, who became head of the Nile Basin Discourse in 2024, is a communication that builds understanding, trust, and commitment
passionate advocate for protecting water resources and involving to collaborative action across borders. Through comprehensive
communities in gathering data about water and adapting to storytelling, digital engagement, and strategic partnerships, CIWA’s
climate change. communications strengthen the foundation for sustainable water
cooperation across Africa’s shared water resources.
FCV Framework Launch and
Policy Development
Igbal Salah
CIWA celebrated World Water Day by releasing its enhanced Hydrologist, IGAD
FCV Framework, which guides the program’s work in water‑
stressed and conflict‑affected areas. This framework represents

a significant advancement in addressing the intersection of water
security, conflict, and forced displacement. Sylvester Matemu

Regional Manager,
Nile Basin Discourse
Mmasechaba
Lebogang Moropane

Aspiring Environmental
Scientistat the University
of the Western Cape,

75