Monthly Report Global Water Partnership

April 2012

Table of contents CARIBBEAN .............................................................................................................................................................. 11 CENTRAL AMERICA .................................................................................................................................................... 17 CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE .................................................................................................................................. 17 CHINA ................................................................................................................................................................... 18 CENTRAL ASIA AND CAUCASUS .................................................................................................................................... 23 EASTERN AFRICA ....................................................................................................................................................... 29 SOUTH AMERICA ....................................................................................................................................................... 31 SOUTH ASIA ............................................................................................................................................................. 33 SOUTH EAST ASIA ..................................................................................................................................................... 49

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Annual Report 2011 – GWP in Action

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First India Water Week Focuses on Water-Energy-Food Nexus Under the theme, “Water, Energy and Food Security: Call for Solutions”, more than 1,000 water professionals from India and abroad participated in of the first India Water Week in April, in New Delhi. In an indication of the role of water as of critical importance to economic prosperity, the week was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. Read more. Dr. Ania Grobicki, GWP Executive Secretary, Mr. Chaminda Rajapakse, Senior Network Officer, Prof. S R Hashim, President of GWP India, and Dr. Veena Khanduri, Executive Secretary, participated as Chairs and key speakers, in addition to present and former Board Members of GWP India. The Ministry of Water Resources, under the leadership of Mr. Pawan Kumar Bansal, has decided to celebrate India Water Week annually to provide a platform for water solutions and to bring policy makers, industry leaders, experts, professionals and practitioners together to address challenges and showcase technologies. Mr. A D Mohile, former GWP India Board Member, was Chairman for the sub-theme “Integrated Water Resources Management” and Dr. Ania Grobicki, Executive Secretary, GWP was the Co-Chairman. Dr Grobicki presented views on the IWRM process which require prioritizing and sequencing actions to achieve short, medium and long term objectives. She also emphasized that GWP Partnerships can support this process as neutral platforms for collaboration, bringing groups together to define common agendas and develop and implement plans for action. “Integrated approaches to water resources development, management and use remain a critical element for sustainable development. Integration requires horizontal inter linkages among sectors (water, food, energy and environment) as well as the need for protection against water related conflicts and disasters. Hence continued effort is required to strengthen the institutional framework at all levels”, Dr Grobicki concluded.

Prof. S R Hashim, GWP India President was co-Charing the sub- theme “Water for Food Security”

noting that India’s per capita net availability of food grains has declined. And yet, the population is

less poor and people are definitely less hungry now than they were in the decades of sixties and

seventies. The food basket has diversified significantly with the rising incomes of the country.

Projections of food grain requirements will therefore have to take some of these realities into

account. India may still need to produce around 400 million tonnes of food grains by the middle of

21st century which will put a lot of strain on the available water resources in the country. Food

security and rural livelihoods are intrinsically linked to water availability and use. Food security is

determined by the options people have to secure access to their own agricultural production and

exchange opportunities. These opportunities are influenced by the access to water. Many regions in

India are already facing water deficits; any further decline in water resources will greatly impact food

and livelihood security.

GWP India also organized a Side Event on “Approach of Draft National Water Policy-2012 in context

of Climate Change” at the Central Board of Irrigation and Power, New Delhi on 13 April, 2012 with

the participation of 70 experts/water professionals/ engineers from the Central Water Commission,

National Water Development Agency, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India,

representatives of Department of Water Resources of different States of India, Planning Commission,

Govt. of India, GWP India Partners including board members. The purpose of the side event was to

discuss how far the DNWP 2012 addresses the issues of storage of water, agricultural system that

maximizes use of water and stakeholders’ participation and institutional arrangements in the context

of climate change.

Emphasizing that adaptation strategies could be to increase storage, improve soil conservation and

adopt compatible agriculture strategies, and cropping system to meet the climate variability, GWP

Senior Network Officer Mr. Chaminda Rajapakse mentioned that “Climate change is likely to increase

the variability of water resources affecting human health & livelihood of community. Therefore

special impetus to enhance the capacity of community to meet the challenge at local level by

adopting climate resilient technologies is required”.

Dr. D M More, Former Director General R & D and Technical Advisor, Water Resources Department.

Govt. of Maharashtra, said that India’s first water policy of 1987 was revised in 2002 and it is now

again being revised in 2012. Drying of rivers and streams, continuous declination in ground water

level, poor efforts towards recharge to ground water, pollution of ground water and lakes, rivers

turning into dirty drains on account of discharge of untreated liquid as well as solid waste, unabated

encroachment into natural river courses, poor maintenance of water infrastructure, low water use

efficiency, low productivity of water and land, are the few flaws and gaps observed even after these

policies were adopted. “The new policy is very comprehensive and has proposed some important

changes, like, need to modify the Indian Easements Act 1882, contract for construction of projects to

have inbuilt provision of maintenance of infrastructure and so on. The priorities cannot be same for

all the basins/sub basins across the country. These hydraulic units vary widely in regard to water

availability, climate, land, cropping pattern, industrial development and so on. This is a basin/sub

basin specific issue and decision could be influenced by the views of the stakeholders’/users

together”, Dr More said.

Prof. Vijay Paranjpye criticized the view that increasing larger storages will be the panacea for

decreasing the impacts of climate change. While increasing storages can respond to some like

increasing or changing locations of aridity, they are not likely to answer many of the other impacts of

climate change.

In terms of institutional changes, it was pointed out that merely putting into place water user

associations and such other societies can touch barely 15-20% of the irrigated areas where canal

irrigation is possible, and therefore it is not an adequate institutional measure for responding to

climate change. Since most states have more than 60% of area devoid of canal irrigation schemes, a

totally different institutional system will be required, e.g. association of riverine fishing communities

which looks at the impact of disappearing water front’s or natural riverine lakes. Similarly,

associations of farmers in the rain-fed agricultural areas would need to be given technical support for

responding to longer dry spells. GWP IWRM ToolBox Introduced in Armenia GWP conducted a training course on the “Application of the GWP IWRM ToolBox” at the Yerevan State University in Armenia, 25-26 April 2012. One of the main purposes of the training was to demonstrate how the GWP IWRM ToolBox can be used in university curricula. Read more. The training had 18 attendees from Armenia, mainly professors of Yerevan State University, Armenian State Agriculture University, Armenian governmental agencies and GWP Armenia. Two participants from the Technical University of Georgia, a neighbor country, were also invited to the training . The aims of the 2 days training were: - to introduce GWP ToolBox to participants from educational institutions - to illustrate the application of ToolBox for training and capacity building programs - to disseminate and share experience on IWRM application in Caucasus and Central Asia and

other GWP regions - to encourage professors of universities to develop IWRM curricula based on the Toolbox The training was organised at the initiative of Yerevan State University which plans to include IWRM training and the GWP ToolBox into the programme of a Masters Course. At the end of the training, all participants were requested to provide a feedback, in order to learn lessons and applicability in other countries (regions). The report and all presentations are available here: http://www.cwp.am/ Africa Develops Response to Climate Change Threat to Water Security In an effort to address the twin challenges of water security and climate change, the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) launched the Strategic Framework for Water Security and Climate Resilient Development on May 14, 2012, at the 4th Africa Water Week, in Cairo, Egypt. The Strategic Framework has been developed as part of the Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP), an AMCOW programme being implemented by GWP. Read more. http://www.gwp.org/gwp-in-action/News-and-Activities/Africa-Develops-Response-to-Climate-Change-Threat-to-Water-Security/ Guyanese Journalist Wins Media Award With the objective to inspire Caribbean journalists to report more on water, GWP Caribbean launched its first annual Media Awards on Water on 5 March 2012. The winner is Mr. Shane Hubbard, an Editor and Videographer from CNS TV6 in Guyana who produced a television submission under the theme “Water and Food Security”. Read more. The competition’s judges said that Mr. Hubbard’s video was “impactful, created multi-audience appeal and was well produced.” As the winner, Mr. Hubbard will receive the first place Award and a cash prize. When contacted by GWP Caribbean about his achievement, Mr. Hubbard, who has been

working in the media for the past three years, spoke of his passion for telling stories through film. He explained that he is motivated to create pieces on water related issues to educate people on the critical importance of the resource, as often times persons hear about the need to save water but are not truly aware of its importance. He is therefore able to use his craft to build awareness on these issues. The piece was written, directed and narrated by Mr. Hubbard and gives a compelling look into the critical importance of water in Guyana’s agricultural sector. It carefully and creatively illustrates a plethora of issues related to water’s vital link to food security; steps taken by the Guyanese government to ensure the country’s food security; the strain on Guyana’s water with agriculture being a large consumer of the resource; among other issues. Amidst these issues, the video also encapsulated the need for Guyanese citizens to be more aware of the realities of water scarcity and the key role they can play in conserving water. The competition called for media practitioners in the areas of print, television, radio and multi-media to submit original, published works on various water related themes. Two applicants were given Honourable Mentions : Ms. Veoma Ali, Regional Advertising Manager at One Caribbean Media Limited in Barbados for her radio entry under the theme “Water Conservation” and Mrs. Latoya Minott-Spence, Reporter and Producer at Television Jamaica for her television entry under the themes “Water for All; Water and Poverty; and Water and Health.” Demerara Waves: http://www.demerarawaves.com/index.php/201205083783/Latest/guyanese-tops-global-water-partnership-media-awards.html. Guyanese journalist wins Global Water Partnership–Caribbean Award http://www.stabroeknews.com/2012/news/stories/05/09/guyanese-journalist-wins-global-water-partnership%E2%80%93caribbean-award/ Caribbean Press Releases: http://www.caribbeanpressreleases.com/articles/9418/1/Caribbean-Journalists-Win-Media-Awards-on-Water--/Page1.html. Implementing Rwanda Water Policy On 25 April, GWP Rwanda took a first step to implement the Water Resources Management (WRM) Strategy of Rwanda by holding a workshop, jointly organized with the Netherlands Development Organization under the theme: "Towards IWRM through collaboration and partnerships between all actors at all levels". "The workshop came after the launching of the WRM policy and strategy last March", said Mr Kabalisa, Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Natural Resource Authority responsible for WRM . In relation to the objectives of the workshop he said: “We need to look at how to increase the participation and involvement of the stakeholders in the implementation of the WRM strategy”. Read more. The Chair of GWP Rwanda, Patrick Safari [now GWP Eastern Africa Regional Coordinator] said that “the workshop was intended to increase the stakeholders’ involvement in IWRM and improve the coordination of interventions of actors including civil society, private- and public sector organisations and national and local level. The implementation of Rwanda IWRM Policy and Strategy requires very strong and robust collaboration, partnership and synergies between various actors”. The Deputy Director of the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority presented the WRM policy and strategy. The participants were impressed by the comprehensiveness of the policy but were also aware of the critical steps of translating it into practice. Workshop discussions included:

Greater involvement of stakeholders and coordination around the implementation.

The IWRM concept in relation to water security with key messages such as: IWRM is everybody’s business. IWRM can be implemented in fully fledged way as institutional reform or in a simpler partial form by each stakeholder, making reference to experiences from Bolivia with the National Catchment Plan and from Zimbabwe with the set-up of Catchment councils.

helping the Bugesera Pilot Project to increase resilience of the communities to climate change in the Bugesera sub river basin.

Vulnerability and strengths of children in relation to water. The general conclusion of the event was that everyone, from decision makers to the people in the catchment, has to know about and be involved in IWRM. Existing networks and fora such as GWP Rwanda as well as Joint Action Development Forum should be enabled to exchange and dialogue around all water actors.

High-Level Roundtable on Water in China The High-Level Roundtable on Water Resources Management System Development in China was organized by GWP China on April 20, 2012, in Beijing. The meeting aimed at establishing water management mechanisms with well-defined duties, rights and responsibilities, coordination mechanisms for the development of river basins, and facilitating stricter and better water management through the integrated water resources management approach. Read more. The meeting was supported by the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of the Environmental Protection and Asian Development Bank, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) China, the UNESCO Office Beijing and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) as co-sponsors and had invited 140 participants from the key water-related ministries under the State Council, and relevant departments of the Ministry of Water Resources, UN organizations’ offices in China, foreign embassies in Beijing, universities, research institutes and NGOs. The following common understandings were reached: 1) China is facing a severe challenge of water scarcity and heavy water pollution. The No.1 Policy Document on Reform and Development in the Water Sector and related laws were issued by the Chinese Central Government last year pointing out the countermeasures to these challenges. The system will be supported by “three red lines”, i.e., the sub-systems on flood control, drought prevention and disaster reduction; rational allocation and efficient use of water resources, water resources protection and river-lake health security; and water scientific development; 2) The implementation of the No.1 Policy Document and relevant laws has to face major challenges which are necessary to promote further reforms of mechanisms and systems as well as to formulate coordinated laws and rules. It must set up details of relevant technical standards, pricing indicators and technical systems, and improve enforcement systems of rewards and penalties; 3) The implementation of the strictest water resources management system involves different sectors, including water, environmental protection and others. The key message of the No.1 Policy Document is to discuss how to establish coordination mechanisms and the methods of promoting widespread participation of the public, private and NGOs; 4) The core technical supports to the “three red-lines” are information monitoring systems for water resources, the environment and ecosystems, and for lake and river health;

5) The need to develope international cooperation and sharing advanced concepts, models and technologies relating water management from other countries. The EU-China Water Platform established in March at the 6t World Water Forum in Marseille is a beginning.

GWP at Rio+20 A GWP delegation will participate in the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil in June. Links to:

Tentative Programme for GWP participation

GWP Key messages for Rio+20 in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese

Participate in the Rio dialogues: https://www.riodialogues.org/login

Launch of “Status Report on the Application of Integrated Approaches to Water Resources

Management” (UN Water). GWP facilitated the completion of both level surveys through the

Regional and Country Water Partnerships and GWP Senior Advisor Alan Hall was a member

of the Working Group and one of the authors of the report.

http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/pdf/04_05_2012_side_event_rioplus20_press_relea

se.pdf

The Future We Want - a global initiative to move beyond negative visions of the future and

focus on the sustainability solutions that are ready to be implemented by 2030

http://www.gwp.org/gwp-in-action/News-and-Activities/The-Future-We-Want/

Improving Water Quality in Nepal Providing adequate, reliable and good quality water is a daunting task in Nepal. GWP Nepal, in association with the Water Integrity Network, undertook a project to improve the standard of water services by enhancing the accountability of the service provider and facilitating closer interaction between consumers and service providers. Read more. [link to online Briefing Note from South Asia]

Meet Our Partners GWP is a network of more than 2,500 institutional Partners. Here is an interview with the Institute for Water Resources in the USA: http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=75:news-2012&id=839:global-water-partnership-executive-secretary-visits-usace-iwr-iciwarm. 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. Social Media logos ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ GWP in the news Guyanese journalist wins Global Water Partnership –Caribbean (GWP-C) Media Award on Water

(tunuptv.com)

Guyanese tops Global Water Partnership Media Awards (demerarawaves)

Groundwater in Africa

Creamer Media's Engineering News

Khaleej Times

News24

Newstrack India

Mail & Guardian Online

Egypt Independent

SA warned of water, energy, food and climate 'mega nexus' (Legalbrief)

Acuerdo de AES Gener y Aguas Andinas podría complicar (Radio Universidad de Chile)

More news in our Press Room. GWP IWRM ToolBox Case studies from Costa Rica (#416), Nicaragua (#417), and El Salvador (#418) which address critical challenges of climate change adaptation.

Coming events 31 May 2012, Symposium on Integrated Water Resource Management, Beirut, Lebanon 5-8 June 2012, The 1997 UN Watercourses Convention – What Relevance in the 21st Century?, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK 11-14 June, 2012, 3rd Annual International Law and Transboundary Freshwaters Workshop 2012, GWP/Dundee University, Scotland, UK 20-22 June 2012, Rio+20, United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2-4 July 2012, Global Action Networks, Wageningen University, The Netherlands 26-31 August, 2012, World Water Week, Stockholm, Sweden New Resources Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM): How does groundwater fit in? Article by Stephen Foster and Mohamed Ait-Kadi GWP Briefing Note: “No food security without water security” Small-scale finance for water and sanitation (EUWI-FWG and SHARE) 2011 Global Food Policy Report (IFPRI) Urban Sanitation Experiences from Senegal and Burkina Faso (World Bank Water Partnership Programme) Philippines Rural Water Supply Handbook: A Valuable Tool for Designing Small Waterworks (World Bank Water Partnership Programme) WaterLex ‘Human Right to Water and Sanitation’ Online Legal Database International Commission on Irrigation & Drainage (ICID) Bulletin Calls GWP Eastern Africa is recruiting a Development Communications Officer Project: Strengthening the institutions for transboundary water management in Africa / Renforcement des institutions de gestion des eaux transfrontalières en Afrique is recruiting an ANBO/GWP Project Manager Water in the News

Ghana rehabilitates 40 percent of irrigation schemes for more effective water (Ghana Business News)

Food Security Means Water Too

Water policy needs 'radical' change to protect people and environment (The Guardian)

Europe's water: efficient use is a must

Africa Progress Panel calls on African governments to drive towards MDGs (The Guardian)

Time to act is now to avert disaster in Africa’s Sahel region, UN officials stress

GWP Regions CARIBBEAN Activities Guyanese Journalist Tops GWP-C Media Awards on Water Inspiring Caribbean journalists to report more on water was the aim of Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) when it launched its first Media Awards on Water on March 5th, 2012. The competition which ended on April 10th, 2012 called for media practitioners in the areas of print, television, radio and multi-media to submit original, published works on various water related themes such as Water and Food Security; Water for All; Water and Health; Water and Poverty; Water Conservation; Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM); among other topics.

All entries into the competition were deemed to be of a high standard but the judging panel which consisted of Caribbean experts and professionals, selected Mr. Shane Hubbard, an Editor and Videographer from CNS TV6 in Guyana as the winner. Mr. Hubbard’s television submission under the theme “Water and Food Security” surpassed all entries in the competition in terms of its organisation, creativity and production in communicating the chosen topic. The television piece which was written, directed and narrated by Mr. Hubbard, gives a compelling look into the critical importance of water in Guyana’s agricultural sector.

It carefully and creatively illustrates a plethora of issues related to water’s vital link to food

security; steps taken by the Guyanese government to ensure the country’s food security; the

strain on Guyana’s water with agriculture being a large consumer of the resource; among other

issues. Amidst these issues, the video also encapsulated the need for Guyanese citizens to be

more aware of the realities of water scarcity and the key role they can play in conserving water.

The competition’s judges said that Mr. Hubbard’s video was “impactful, created multi -audience

appeal and was well produced.” As the winner of the competition, Mr. Hubbard will receive the

first place Award and a cash prize.

When contacted by GWP-C about his achievement, Mr. Hubbard who has been working in the

media for the past three years spoke of his passion for telling stories through film. He explained

that he is motivated to create pieces on water related issues to educate people on the critical

importance of the resource, as often times persons hear about the need to save water but are

not truly aware of its importance. He is therefore able to use his craft to build awareness on

these issues.

Mr. Shane Hubbard -

Winner of the 2012 GWP-C

Media Awards on Water.

Two applicants into the Media Awards on Water were deemed worthy of Honourable Mention by the judging panel. These journalists are:

Ms. Veoma Ali, Regional Advertising Manager at One Caribbean Media Limited in Barbados for her radio entry under the theme “Water Conservation.” Her radio piece sought to encourage Caribbean people to see themselves as the solution in terms of conserving water and protecting the environment. Ms. Ali’s entry also included useful water-saving tips for the home that are often overlooked.

Mrs. Latoya Minott-Spence, Reporter and Producer at Television Jamaica for her television entry under the themes “Water for All; Water and Poverty; and Water and Health.” Mrs. Minott-Spence created a four part television series that provided an in-depth look into the water woes experienced in a rural community in Jamaica. The stories intimately focused on the lack of water in the community; examined how it affected the residents in the community; and how they have been trying to help themselves.

Ms. Ali and Mrs. Minott-Spence will each receive a cash prize and a trophy. Both awardees were also contacted by GWP-C and related their interest in reporting on regional water issues.

Ms. Ali explained that her motivation to report on water issues stems from an interest in protecting the environment. She pointed out that the media has a vital role to play in driving messages to various audiences on water conservation and other related issues. Mrs. Minott-Spence explained that she has a keen interest in producing environmental stories, which stems from her own experience growing up in the rural parts of Jamaica where water can be very scarce. GWP-C is dedicated to continuing its efforts in supporting Caribbean journalists in building greater awareness amongst various stakeholders on major water issues and plans to hold its Media Awards on Water on an annual basis. More information on the awardees in the Media Awards on Water is available on the GWP-C website. Immediate Outcomes GWP-C’s press release on the achievement of the journalists has been disseminated by various regional media sources such as the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM); the Guyana Press Association (GPA); the Demerara Waves (Guyana’s premier source for online daily news); among others. The following are links to the press release carried by various online sources:

Demerara Waves: http://www.demerarawaves.com/index.php/201205083783/Latest/guyanese-tops-global-water-partnership-media-awards.html.

Ms. Veoma Ali -

Special Awardee

Mrs. Latoya

Minott-Spence -

Special Awardee

Caribbean Press Releases: http://www.caribbeanpressreleases.com/articles/9418/1/Caribbean-Journalists-Win-Media-Awards-on-Water--/Page1.html.

GWP-C Focuses on Strengthening Its Partnership 16th Steering Committee Meeting Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) was able to work along with its partners and obtain valuable inputs in strengthening its current workplan when it hosted its 16th Steering Committee (SC) Meeting and 7th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Grenada on April 19th and 20th, 2012 respectively. The 16th SC Meeting saw the participation of eight members, Mr. Trevor Thompson; Dr. Riad Nurmohamed; Dr. Adrian Cashman; Professor Jacob Opadeyi; Dr. Fredericka Deare; Mrs. Maureen Manchouck; and then temporary members, Ms. Judy Daniel and Mr. Terrence Smith. The Committee together with GWP-C’s Regional Coordinator, Ms. Avril Alexander, reviewed achievements made in 2011 and held in-depth discussions on strategies for the organisation’s 2012 work programme. The SC looked closely at a broad range of areas in their discussions. Members pointed out the steady growth in the Partnership and spoke about the need to review the GWP-C Statutes to incorporate electronic voting to accommodate the increase in partners. Stemming from this issue, a sub-committee of SC members was formed to examine the procedures for electronic and proxy voting. The committee has also been given the responsibility to look into the viability of having GWP-C’s Meeting of its General Assembly on a biennial basis. Through discussions, important contributions were given by SC members in supporting the Partnership and moving the GWP-C workplan forward. 7th Annual General Meeting Proceeding the SC Meeting, GWP-C had the opportunity to receive strategic direction from its partners in terms of its work and activities at its 7th Annual General Meeting (AGM) which took place a day later. The opening ceremony of the 7th Meeting of the General Assembly saw the avid participation of Honourable Senator Denneth Modeste, Minister of Works, Physical Development

GWP-C members are seen here during discussions at its 16th Steering

Committee Meeting in Grenada on April 19th, 2012.

and Public Utilities of Grenada as well as Mr. Aaron Francois, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. GWP-C’s Chair, Mr. Trevor Thompson gave opening remarks at the ceremony and provided some highlights of GWP-C’s work over the past year. He stressed to partners and other stakeholders at the opening, the need to educate persons on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and the importance of proper management of water. Honourable Senator Denneth Modeste, who delivered the feature address at the opening, acknowledged that the Government of Grenada was pleased that GWP-C decided to hold its 7th AGM on the island. He noted that GWP-C had over the years held several technical and capacity building workshops in Grenada including the recently concluded IWRM Policy Implementation Workshop put on in March 2012. Having been recently appointed to his current post, Minister Modeste pledged his Ministry’s continued support to the Annual High Level Session (HLS) Ministerial Forum hosted by GWP-C and its partner, the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA). He indicated that he would attend the upcoming HLS in October. He explained that Grenada understands the importance of IWRM and has taken several steps to develop the approach, citing the National Water Policy for Grenada which was drafted in 2007 and the country’s efforts towards Water Sector Reform. The Minister also added that to support such efforts, attention should be placed on rainwater harvesting, ground water storage and training and capacity building. Additionally, he expressed his appreciation for GWP-C’s work in terms of its IWRM training workshops in Grenada. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr. Aaron Francois also give remarks at the opening ceremony. He commended GWP-C for its engagement and involvement in assisting Grenada in working towards the implementation of its National Water Policy. He also addressed the critical need to engage various stakeholders in water resources management to ensure that they understand the importance of properly managing the resource.

Honourable Senator Denneth Modeste,

Minister of Works, Physical Development

and Public Utilities of Grenada is seen

here giving the feature address at the

opening of the 7th AGM.

Mr. Aaron Francois, Permanent

Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture,

Forestry and Fisheries is seen here

speaking at the opening ceremony of the

7th AGM.

The opening ceremony set the tone for a productive and meaningful 7th AGM. Thirty-six (36) partners attended the Meeting and added several inputs in helping to strengthen the work of GWP-C. Some of the issues discussed at the Meeting included:

Review of the Quorum Issue - Partners called for clarification on the definition of the “quorum” as referenced in GWP-C’s Statutes.

The allocation of increased funding (60,000 Euros) to GWP-C by the Global Water Partnership (GWP) Organisation.

GWP-C’s work at the regional level with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Formation of Country Water Partnerships (CWPs).

Youth involvement in the Partnership.

GWP-C’s Water and Climate Change Programme.

GWP-C’s 2012 workplan of activities. The 7th Meeting of the General Assembly also saw the election of three members on to the GWP-C SC. The newly elected members are Ms. Judy Daniel (GWP-C Partner Representative for Environmental Advisors Inc.); Mr. Terrence Smith (GWP-C Partner Representative for T.P. Smith Engineering Inc.); and Mr. Ermath Harrington (GWP-C Partner Representative for the Caribbean Conservation Association).

Attendees at the 7th Annual General Meeting of the GWP-C on April 20th, 2012.

New Resources GWP-C Launches Annual Report

During the month of April, Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) produced its first Annual Report. The new publication provides a comprehensive reference to GWP-C’s work and activities over the past year in working towards sustainable solutions to effective water resources management. The publication which will be used as a knowledge sharing tool for GWP-C’s partners and other stakeholders, highlights collaborative efforts between GWP-C and its partners as well as strategic allies. It also shows how GWP-C has and continues to learn from the experiences within the GWP network and works to build alliances to strengthen the Partnership. Additionally, the Annual Report highlights the financial conditions of the organisation.

GWP-C sees the Annual Report as a good addition to the organisation’s institutional memory and plans to continue efforts to further document its work and the outcomes of its activities and projects. The GWP-C 2011 Annual Report is available on its website www.gwp-caribbean.org.

CENTRAL AMERICA CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE In frame of road show launched by end of March to raise water awareness among students, four member team including József Gayer, Chair of GWP Hungary visited six universities and colleges in April. The team delivered lectures about current and future water related challenges, protecting resources, ways and means of saving water in everyday activity, restoring aquatic habitat, involving the public, reuse of waste water, etc. József Gayer of GWP Hungary was invited speaker to Ministry of Rural Development High-level Conference: Water Management in the Cross-lines to deliver a presentation about urban water management. The list of speakers included three State Secretaries, one Deputy State Secretary, Officers, representatives of the Chamber of Engineering and the Hydrological Society. The Conference met with enormous interest and therefore, only half of the applicants (250 professionals) were accredited due to space limitation. Others followed the event through closed circuit TV broadcasting. GWP Hungary organized third round of the Danube Box competition. As a result of the three rounds qualification process (seven teams plus one stand-by in both age groups) participants of the final slated for 19 May have been identified. For more information: http://www.danubebox.hu/ GWP Romania President Liviu Nicolae Popescu and GWP Partners participated in Thematic Workshop on Implementation of the Directive 2007/60/EC, organized by National Institute for Hydrology and Water Management (INHGA) on 17-19 April 2012 in Bucharest. Main theme of the workshop held in frame of FLOODRISK International Project was involvement of stakeholders in flood risk management. GWP Partners mentioned WMO/GWP Associated Programme on Floods Management (APFM) that was carried out in two phases during 2004-2006. GWP Romania also highlighted recent activities in frame of GWP CEE Integrated Drought Management Programme capitalizing on APFM success with a similar approach to droughts natural phenomenon that severely influenced parts of Central and Eastern Europe in winter 2011 and spring 2012. National experts completed their input into Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP) Inception Report under coordination of IDMP Task Force Leader. Final draft of the inception repot is slated for May 2012. GWP CEE obtains observer status at the International Sava River Basin Commission The International Sava River Basin Commission (Sava Commission) granted GWP Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) ad hoc Observer status for the two years period as of the April 11, 2012 by April 11, 2014. After this period, it can be renewed every two years upon request. GWP CEE is entitled to participate in all opened-part of the Sessions of the Sava Commission and in the meetings of the permanent expert groups. Out of GWP CEE countries, Slovenia is a member country of the Sava Commission. Full article: http://www.gwp.org/en/GWP-CEE/gwp-cee-in-action/news-and-activities/GWP-CEE-obtains-observer-status-at-the-Sava-Commission/ GWP Slovakia has a New Chair Elena Fatulova is the new Chair of the Global Water Partnership Slovakia it was announced on 5 April 2012. In addition to her role as a Chair, she will represent GWP Slovakia in the Regional Council, the highest decision making body of Regional Water Partnership. During GWP Slovakia General Assembly, Ms. Gabriela Babiakova was elected as a Vice-Chair. Full article:

http://www.gwp.org/en/GWP-CEE/gwp-cee-in-action/news-and-activities/GWP-Slovakia-has-a-New-Chair/ GWP CEE launches Danube Art Master 2012 Get involved in Danube Day, help secure a positive future for the Danube and win great prizes! Danube Art Master competition is opened to children aged 6 to 16 from a school, NGO, day care centre or association in the Danube Basin to create their own ‘environmental art’ inspired by the mighty Danube and its tributaries. This could mean sculptures, pictures, mosaics or collages made from material such as driftwood, stones or even rubbish dumped by the river. Every year, this ambitious 14-country competition jointly organized by the GWP Central and Eastern Europe and the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) unites thousands of children from across the Danube River Basin. Eligible countries are Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. Full article: http://www.gwp.org/en/GWP-CEE/gwp-cee-in-action/news-and-activities/Danube-Art-Master-2012/ CHINA 1. Participated the Sixth World Water Forum The 6th WWF was taken place on March 12 to March 17, in Marseille, France. The delegation of GWP

China which was formed with four members and led by Dong Zheren, the Standing vice Chair of GWP

China participated in the forum.

Fig. Delegation of GWP China and John Metzger, the Head of Network Officers of GWPO

The delegation members joined in all relevant seminars and side-events to exchange current work

plan and achievements of GWP China with other participants from different organizations at the

forum. The exchanges at the forum also assisted the GWP China in promoting friendship with other

organizations from various sectors.

Fig. Dr. Dong discussed with the expert of EU-China RBMP at the forum

The participation in the forum also enabled the GWP China to communicate with experts from

different fields which helped the members to deepen understanding of world water situation and

new challenges and to acquire new concepts and technologies so as to lay a foundation for further

promotion and practice of IWRM principles and tools.

1. The 4th Conference of the 2nd GWP China Council

The meeting of the 4th Conference of the 2nd GWP China Council was held in Beijing on April 19,

2012. Chaired by Mr. Wang Shucheng, twenty four council members and the staff of GWP China

Secretariat reviewed the annual report of GWP China and work report of each provincial/river basin

partnership. The council meeting also addressed by Mr. Qiao Shishan, Deputy Director of

Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology of Ministry of Water Resources

(MWR).

Fig. the 4th Conference of the 2nd GWP China Council

The members approved and delivered constructive commends upon the annual report of GWP

China. According to the council review, GWP China, jointly with provincial and river basin

partnerships and its partners, completed all plans and achieved annual targets of 2011 under the

guidance of MWR and GWPO. The council board gave full affirmation to the GWP China Secretariat

and its remarkable achievements in 2011 which would rely on better capacity-building of the

organization, stronger personal ability of the Secretariat staff and more capacity of raising fund.

2. High-Level Roundtable on Water Resources Management System Development in China

With the support of the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of the Environmental

Protection, the High-Level Roundtable on Water Resources Management System Development in

China was organized by Global Water Partnership China on April 20, 2012 in Beijing with the co-

sponsors of Asian Development Bank, World Wild Fund (WWF) China, the UNESCO Office Beijing and

The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The meeting aimed at establishing water management mechanism

with well-defined duties, rights and responsibilities, standard actions and collaborative operations

and the cooperation and coordination mechanisms for the harmonious development of river basins

and regions as well as facilitating the strictest water management system and better water resources

management system of river basins through the integrated water resources management approach.

Fig. Plenary of the High-Level Roundtable

Chaired by Mr. Wang Shucheng, the Vice Chair of Financial & Economic Committee of the 11th NPC

and Chair of GWP China, the Roundtable was started with the addresses of Mr. Chen Lei, the Minister

of Water Resources; Mr. Du Ying, Vice Minister of the National Development and Reform

Commission; Mr. Wan Bentai, Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Mr. Yu

Youjun, Vice Minister of the Office of The South-To-North Water Diversion Project Construction

Committee of the State Council. Slots were also given to Dr. Markus Ederer, Ambassador of EU

Delegation to China; Mr. Paul J. Heytens, Country Director of Asian Development Bank PRC Resident

Mission; Mr. Jim Gradoville, CEO of WWF-China and Mr. John Metzger, Head of Network Officers of

GWPO. The presentations were given by Mr. Chen Mingzhong, Director General of the Department

of Water Resources Management, Ministry of Water Resources and Mr. Zhao Hualin, Director

General of the Department of Total Pollutants Control, Ministry of Environment Protection and other

five invited specialists after the their two keynote speeches.

The meeting invited 140 participants from the key water-related ministries under the State Council,

and relevant departments of the Ministry of Water Resources, UN organizations’ offices in China,

foreign embassies in Beijing, universities, research institutes and NGOs.

Fig. Panel Discussion of the High-Level Roundtable

This Roundtable meeting was resulted with the deep discussions and exchange of ideas and

experiences around the theme and the following common understanding and consensus were

reached:

1) China is facing a severe challenge of water scarcity and heavy water pollution. The No.1 Policy

Document on Reform and Development in Water Sector and related laws were issued by the Chinese

Central Government last year that pointed out the countermeasures according to these challenges.

The system will be supported by “three red-line”. In other words, the sub-systems on flood control,

drought prevention and disaster reduction, rational allocation and efficient use of water resources,

water resources protection and river-lake health security and water scientific development would

play key roles in development and protection of resources, water saving and protection of water

resources and water environment;

2) The implementation of No.1 Policy Document and relevant laws has to face huge challenges which

would be necessary to promote further reform of mechanisms and system as well as formulate

coordinated laws and rules. It must set up action details of “three red-line”; raise relevant technical

standards, pricing indicators and technical systems and improve enforcement system and pertinent

rules and mechanisms of reward and penalties;

3) The implementation of the strictest water resources management system involves different

sectors, including water, environmental protection and others. The key message of the No.1 Policy

Document is to discuss about how to establish coordination mechanisms and the methods of

promoting widespread participation of the public, private and NGOs;

4) The core technical supports to the “three red-line” are information monitoring system of water

resources, environment and ecosystem and the evaluation system of lake and river health;

5) The other key tools of implementing the strictest water resources management system also

include developing the international cooperation and sharing advanced concepts, models and

technologies relating water management from other countries. The EU-China Water Platform formed

in March in Marseille is deemed as an admirable beginning and example.

The proceedings, videos and other materials that present the outcomes of the Roundtable are under

the production and will be distributed to the relevant governmental sectors as the political

reference.

CENTRAL ASIA AND CAUCASUS BTOR: Venue: Yerevan, Armenia, Yerevan State University Date: 25-26. April 2012 Application of GWP ToolBox Aims of the training: The training course had the following aims: - to introduce GWP ToolBox to the participants from education institutions - to illustrate application of ToolBox for training and capacity building programs - to disseminate and share experience on IWRM application in Caucasus and Central Asia and

other GWP regions (using the ToolBox) - to encourage professors of universities to develop IWRM curricula based on the toolbox Participants The training course attended 18 participants from Armenia, mainly professors of Yerevan State University (several faculties), Armenian State Agriculture University, and Armenian governmental agencies and CWP Armenia. The training was also partially attended by two participants from Technical University of Georgia. Agenda of the training is attached. Evaluation by participants The evaluation sheet was provided to the participants. The findings of the evaluation questionnaire are summarized in the following table.

Training title ToolBox application

How long before the training start did you receive the invitation?

3 weeks in average

With the invitation, did you receive Objectives of training, information about GWP

and ToolBox, training agenda

Were the objectives spelled out at the beginning of the training?

Yes 12

No 1

Did the training fully meet its predefined objectives? Yes: 12 Partly: 1 No: 0

If not, please tell us, why No comments

Please score the following criteria with 5 being the best and 1 being the lowest mark

5 4 3 2 1

Did the training achieve all its objectives? Fully 6 8 0 0 0 Not at all

Overall quality of the training Excellent 7 6 1 0 0 Poor

Were the training methods appropriate? Appropriate 9 5 0 0 0 Not at all

What is the applicability of the training content to your working context?

Applicable 7 4 3 0 0 No use

Have you acquired information and knowledge that is new to you

All 5 4 3 0 0 None

How would you evaluate the presentations of the training?

High 8 5 0 0 0 Low

How would you evaluate the case studies of the training?

High 11 3 0 0 0 Low

How would you evaluate the discussion during the training?

High 8 6 0 0 0 Low

Had you opportunities to discuss issues of your interest?

Fully 12 2 0 0 0 Not at all

Would you recommend this training to your colleagues?

Absolutely 9 6 0 0 0 Not at all

Which part of the training content was most important for you?

Responses included: - discussion on case studies - case studies with a special focus on tools from ToolBox - presentation on Climate Change adaptation and IWRM - idea how ToolBox was tailored and ToolBox presentation - all

Please give us some recommendations of what could be improved next time such training is held.

Responses included: - need to use local examples - more detailed (longer) program or series of training sessions - acknowledgement of up-to-date information used in a training - cover less topics with more details - it was very good that some representatives of the government took part

at the training - not all tools (and their application) was presented – it would require

more days of training to practice all tools

At the end of the training, all participants were requested to provide a feedback, in order to learn lessons and applicability in other countries (regions). All participants agreed that this training course is highly applicable in their work and they appreciated acquired information and knowledge. Also, all participants strongly recommend this training course to others. The training course comprised lectures (presentations and case studies), group work, and brain storming sessions, exercises and discussion. Although the course intended to promote the GWP ToolBox (its functionality, potential and applicability in education programs), it was found that IWRM knowledge and application of IWRM principles brought a rich discussion on several aspects of water management in Armenia. The following are the recommendations of the participants:

- In order to avoid general “theory” on IWRM, it is recommended to bring concrete examples from the local country. Also, local specialists that would act as facilitators in the discussion would be an asset.

- The training was attended mainly by teachers from universities that do not have always the full knowledge on the details of institutional and legal arrangements. However, many tools consider a familiarity in governance issues. It is recommended that training on IWRM tools is a part of a broad capacity building scheme.

- The training emphasized on IWRM planning, but not a concrete example of IWRM plan. It is recommended to present one (several) basin management models and discuss how these could be can be adopted locally.

- It is strongly recommended to hold such seminars more often and present the literature and the translations in local language.

Presentation of two case studies was complemented by group works where participants discussed additional 3 case studies. The comments were very erudite and competent, and it is obvious that the participants are familiar with using tools regarding participation, stakeholder involvement, but less with river basin management planning, and economic instruments. Participants stated that application of GWP ToolBox is essential in advanced curricula. It is a sound tool for understanding the interdisciplinary connections (e.g. water- land, environment - water, water – community). They committed to include some ToolBox tools and resources (case studies and reference documents) into educational course. Observations from ToolBox officer: - excellent group of participants – very active and competent for this course, fantastic atmosphere

of the course and easy to deliver presentations - a presence and involvement of CWP Armenia was essential and a training increased a reputation

of this NGO among both governmental officials and academia. - very professional logistics and selection of facilities.

The training course met its objectives.

23.April: A General Assembly meeting (not a part of the ToolBox training) was held few days prior the training. Arevik (chair of CWP Armenia) reported on the achievements from previous year and presented plans for 2012.

24. April: In spite of a heavy storm, several thousands of people from Armenia and abroad came to a memorial of Armenian holocaust.

25.April: participants of the training ranged from young PhD assistants to mature professors.

25 April: several discussions were held in parallel

26.April: Certificates at the end.

Agenda

Introduction of participants and the course 9:00 – 9:30

1 IWRM: definition and meaning as advocated by GWP This is a presentation to understand what we mean by IWRM and how this concept links with development issues; variety of elements in water resources management will be discussed

9:30 – 10:15

Break Questions and/or break

2 GWP ToolBox: Walk through ToolBox This is be a very detailed description of ToolBox, its features, components, cases, reference documents, partners. It will show how all IT functions

10:30 – 11:15

Refresh Situation 1: an example from a real life A small story will show a real situation and the participants will discuss potential solutions

11:15 – 11:45

3 How ToolBox was used in other GWP regions I will present the experience of individual GWP regions in application of ToolBox (good and bad examples as well)

11:45 – 12:20

Questions

Lunch 12:30 – 13:30

4 Assessment of Case studies Participants will read case studies and will try to attach tools that were applied in case studies. We will also assess lessons learnt in individual cases. I have a pile of 3 case studies to be assessed. Thus, participants will work in small groups and each group will assess a different case study. We will try to judge if case studies are appropriate for education purposes. Will need to be translated into Russian. Also, the list of tools needs to be provided to participants.

13:30 – 14:30

5 Case Study: Conflict between water planning and urban planning Case Study: Agreement between water and urban interests I will present two cases that illustrate how stakeholder and public involvement was a success and failure. It emphasizes that appropriate tools must be applied in each specific situation and context. It will be followed by the discussion

14:30-15:00 15:00-15:30 15:30-16:00

WHAT DID WE LEARN: questions and summary of the day End around 17:00

6 What are the Tools in ToolBox and why? This is a presentation on details of tools. We will try to identify, which tools are already studied (applied, discussed) in universities, which are missing both in the ToolBox and in universities

9:30-10:15

7 Application of Tools regarding Stakeholder and Public participation This will be presentation of several ToolBox tools dealing with IWRM principle (participatory approach). It is an introduction to the following session

10:15 - 10:45

break 10:45-11:00

Situation 2: brain storming After several presentations, participants should be able to discuss issues as indicated in the brain storming exercise

11:00-11:30

8 Climate Change Adaption and IWRM This will be a presentation on a hot issue of climate change. How this

11:30-12:30

topic could be presented in schools?

Lunch 12:30-13:30

9 IWRM in education; current experiences in Central Europe, West Europe, Africa I will present experience from other regions regarding IWRM education. Participants will be asked also to present what and how the IWRM is applied in university curricula

13:30-14:45

Break

10 CWP Armenia – presentation and information about CWP Armenia, CACENA, GWP

15:15 – 16:00

Evaluation of training I will bring the questionnaire to evaluate the workshop

16:00 – 16:30

Summary of the day, everybody could tell something 16:30-17:00

List of Participants

NN Name Organization

1 Ohanyan Artur State Committee of Water System

2 Sahakyan Samvel Ministry of Agriculture of RA

3. Pirumyan Gevorg Yerevan State University (YSU) Chemical Faculty Head of Department of Ecological Chemistry

4 Derdzyan Tatevik YSU Chemical Faculty Department of Ecological Chemistry

5 Tutunjyan Anna YSU Chemical Faculty Department of Ecological Chemistry

6 Simonyan Gevorg YSU Idjevan branch, Department of Forestry

7 Misakyan Edgar Ministry of Emergency of RA, Monitoring Service

8 Danielyan Astghik YSU Biological faculty Department of ecology and Nature Protection

9 Hambaryan Lusine YSU Biological faculty Department of ecology and Nature Protection

10 Ma8garyan Varduhi YSU Geography and Geology Faculty, Department of physical Geography and Hydro-Meteorological

11 Galstyan Hrachuhi YSU Geography and Geology Faculty, Department of physical Geography and Hydro-Meteorological

12 Muradyan Zohrab YSU Geography and Geology Faculty, Department of physical Geography and Hydro-Meteorological

13 Iskwjan Aida YSU Law faculty, Department of Ecological Law

14 Jilavyan Luiza VGM Partners, Consultatnt

15 Khachatryan Zaruhi CWP Armenia

17 Hwvsepyan Arevik CWP Armenia

18 Hakobyan Herbert Armenian State Agriculture University

19 Aleksandra Akhvlediani

Technical University of georgia, Hyrdotechnical studctures department

20 George Dzamukashvili

CWP Georgia

EASTERN AFRICA Rwanda Water Partnership, ready to contribute to the implementing of Rwanda Water Resources

Management Policy and Strategy

On April 25th, the Rwanda Water Partnership (RWP) has set a first step to

jointly implement the Water Resources Management (WRM) Strategy of

Rwanda. The workshop was organized by the Rwanda Water Partnership and

SNV, Netherlands Development Organization under the slogan: "Towards

IWRM through collaboration and partnerships between all actors at all

levels".

"The workshop came after the launching of the WRM policy and strategy in last March", said Mr

Kabalisa, the Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Natural Resource Authority responsible for

WRM . In relation to the objectives of the workshop he said: “We need to look at how to increase

the participation and involvement of the stakeholders in the implementation of the WRM strategy”.

The Chair of the Rwanda Water Partnership, Patrick Safari indicated that the workshop is intended to

increase the stakeholders’ involvement in IWRM and improve the coordination of interventions of

actors including civil society, private- and public sector organisations and national and local level. He

further indicated that the implementation of Rwanda IWRM Policy and Strategy requires very strong

and robust collaboration, partnership and synergies between various actors.

The Deputy Director of the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority presented the WRM policy and

strategy. The participants were impressed by the comprehensiveness of the policy but were also

aware of the critical steps of translating it into practice. There was a break out session to discuss the

issues of greater involvement of stakeholders and coordination around the implementation.

SNV presented the IWRM concept in relation to water security. Key messages were: IWRM is

everybody’s business. IWRM can be implemented in fully fledged way as institutional reform or in a

simpler partial form by each stakeholder. The presentation made reference to SNV experiences from

Bolivia with the National Catchment Plan and from Zimbabwe with the set-up of Catchment councils.

Next was the presentation by the Chair of Rwanda Water Partnership who presented the overview of

Global Water Partnership and the initiative of kicking the Bugesera Pilot Project to increase resilience

of the communities to climate change in the Bugesera sub river basin.

SNV’s second presentation was about vulnerability and strengths of children in relation to water

"Many children and especially girls suffer from being overburdened by fetching water while children

can also be agents of change for improved hygiene”. John Nkurikiyinka, director of the

REACH/Winrock, Rwanda Education Alternatives for Children project, highlighted the important

difference between acceptable household chores and child labour. UNICEF chief WASH,

complemented the discussion by saying that household chores are often heavy and become a form

of child labour that hampers development of the girls and boys. The participants pledged to address

water and sanitation at schools and in water development programmes.

The general conclusion of the event was that everyone, from decision makers to the people in the

catchment, has to know about and be involved in IWRM. Existing networks and fora such Rwanda

Water Partnerhip as well as Joint Action Development Forum should be enabled to exchange and

dialogue around all water actors.

The workshop was well attended by multi-actors from the government, regulators, NGOs, research

institutes and development partners. In the afternoon a new chair of the RWP was elected: Lyliose

Umupfasoni, Director of water of the Ministry of Natural Resources. The outgoing chair promised to

support the RWP in his capacity and SNV’s technical and financial support was appreciated by the

participants and the entire new RWP leadership team.

SOUTH AMERICA MONTHLY REPORT April 2012

GWP Panama celebrates World Water Day

GWP Panama, together with other organizations, coordinated a forum on the “Right to Water and Sanitation” on the 30th of March as part of their activities to commemorate World Water Day. The event was organized in order to address the conceptual issues in the declaration by the General Assembly of the United Nations from resolution 64/292 – specifically where it recognizes “… the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment

of life and all human rights.” National and international speakers participated in the event, including representatives from GWP Panama, the Ministry of Health, the National Environment Authority, the Pan American Health Organization, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Freshwater Action Network and the Spanish Cooperation (AECID). The AECID gave a presentation on the Water and Sanitation Cooperation Funds from the government of Spain.

More than sixty people participated in the forum, from the various sectors including national and local government, academia, and local water committees. A follow up workshop on sanitation technologies is being organized for next month.

Next steps in the approval of the Water Law in El Salvador

The National Congress, who received the National Water Law in March, ended their term on the 30th of April. This means that the discussion and approval of the Law will fall into the hands of the next legislature, who begin their term of office in May. In preparation for the next steps in the approval of the Law, civil society and non-governmental organizations are beginning the lobbying efforts that are required. The Political Party in government, as well as one other Party have both publicly declared their commitment to advancing the Law. Parallel to this process, a group of lawyers and the Office of Human Rights have been working on a decree to reform the Constitution, so that it recognizes the right to water and food. This issue has already been discussed by Congress in the last session and it was approved by 81 out of 84 congressmen.

UNDP´s Equator Prize goes to Humboldt Center

The Humboldt Center, member of GWP Nicaragua, received the Equator Prize, which is a UNDP initiative that “brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizations to recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions for people, nature and resilient communities”. The Prize was for the Humboldt Center´s “Community Wells” project that has benefitted 49 thousand people with 116 drinking water systems. The project is an effort to contribute to the adaptation to climate change and has been executed by the Humboldt Center for 8 years in 13 municipalities of Nicaragua.

GWP Central America participated in a meeting with the Climate Change Technical

Committee

The Climate Change Technical Committee (CCTC) is part of the Central American Commission for Environment and Development and is comprised of representatives of the eight countries in the region, including Dominican Republic and Belize. GWP Central America, together with IUCN participated in a meeting with the CCTC and participated with a presentation on the importance of water for the adaptation to climate change. The presentation included information from the Political Dialogue for Climate Change (DRP), which GWP is part of. An agreement was reached to organize a workshop with the negotiators and the CCTC in the next few months.

GWP partners in Belize continue in meetings

GWP partners in Belize have met twice in the past weeks (March 14th and April 24th) to continue the dialogue on the establishment of their National Water Partnership. The partners have expressed their interest in identifying objectives in how to promote IWRM in their country and have therefore suggested the formation of working groups in priority areas and are in the process of including them in the bylaws. SOUTH ASIA SUBMITTED BY: Global Water Partnership – South Asia (GWP–SAS)

SUBMISSION DATE:

CONTENTS

Page No.

Part 1: Report by GWP-SAS Regional Office 2

Part 2: Report by Bangladesh Water Partnership (BWP) 2-5

Part 3: Report by Bhutan Water Partnership (BhWP) 5

Part 4: Report by India Water Partnership (IWP) 5-12

Part 5: Report by Nepal Water Partnership (NWP) 13

Part 6: Report by Pakistan Water Partnership (PWP) 13-15

Part 7: Report by Sri Lanka Water Partnership (SLWP)

PART 1: REPORT BY GWP-SAS REGIONAL OFFICE

The Regional Office focused on exploring fund-raising opportunities and routine financial and

administrative matters.

Regional Coordinator met the Senior Network Officer in the Regional Office and discussed several

issues including forthcoming GWP Global Steering Committee Meeting to be held in New Delhi in

November 2012, proposed ADB Project to support IWRM, forthcoming SAS Regional Council meeting

and the preparatory meeting on the transition of Regional Chairpersonship. The discussions were

held on 24th and 27th April.

Discussions were held with International Water Management Institute (IWMI) on funding

opportunities under food security related research and correspondence was made with the

International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM) with similar objectives.

Among the financial and administrative matters, the Regional Office concentrated on finalizing the

first Quarter Financial Reports and adopting the new format suggested by GWP Secretariat. Work

Completion Report and Expenditure Reports were prepared for the APAN assignment which ended

on 31st March. Preparatory work for the next assignment is being carried out.

Regional Office disseminated the information and announcements related to IWRM and regional and

global events related to water management, to the Region. Work is ongoing to modify the GWP

South Asia website.

PART 2: REPORT BY BANGLADESH WATER PARTNERSHIP

Preparation for implementation of activities

BWP has completed the preparatory work for the study on analysis of application of IWRM principles

into water supply and sanitation projects in Dhaka under Goal-1 in collaboration with the

Environment and Population Research Center (EPRC).

BWP has also fulfilled the preparatory work for the study to examine the present status of Bhairab

River and how those have been changed from the originals in the Southwestern part of Bangladesh

under Goal-3 in collaboration with the Bhairab River Basin AWP and Initiative for Right View (IRV).

Roundtable discussion on “Climate Change Negotiation”

A roundtable discussion on “Climate Change Negotiation” organized by Bangladesh Unnayan

Parishad (BUP), Oxfam and European Union was held on 08 April 2012 at Economic Association

Auditorium, Dhaka. Honorable members of parliament Mr. Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Mr. Zunaid

Ahmed Palak were the Guests of Honor. Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman, Polli Kormo-

Sahayek Foundation (PKSF) and Coordinator of Bangladesh Climate Change Negotiation Team acted

as the Chair. Dr. Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed, Climate Change Specialist, PKSF presented the keynote

paper.

The keynote speaker briefly described the following features;

International initiatives of climate change and some COP decisions

Formation of UNFCCC

Objective of the convention

Principal of the convention

The conference of the parties (COP) and CMP

Adoption of Kyoto Protocol,

Some major COP/CMP decisions

Decision of COP 13 Bali Action Plan and AWG-LCA

Bali to Copenhagen

Outcome of Copenhagen

Overview of Cancun Agreements

Overview of Durban outcome

Adaptation

Mitigation by developed countries

Mitigation by developing countries

REDD

Finance

Technology

Kyoto Protocol

Dr. Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed also highlighted our following expectation in Doha;

Science based shared vision for long-term cooperative action. Unfortunately lack of decision

for shared vision for the last COP 16 and 17

Equal treatment for adaptation and mitigation and earmarked financial resources for LDCs

and SIDs

Detailed modalities and clarity on the actual sources of funding and on developed country

commitments to provide financing beyond fast-start pledges, which end 2012.

Operationalization of green climate fund.

New, additional, adequate money both for adaptation and mitigation particularly for LCDs

and SIDs. Funding mechanism for 2013-2020

Enough and adequate allocation for LDCF and SCCF

Functional technology mechanism, technology center and technology executive committee.

Easy access of adaptation and mitigation technology

Concrete decision on IPR issues

Capturing the progress of AWG-LCA and AWG-KP for the Durban platform negotiation

Ambitious emission reduction target from all Annex-1 countries for the second commitment

period

Consequence of Japan Canada and Russia’s withdrawal from KP will have to be discussed

seriously to uphold the future legally binding climate regime.

Dr. Khondaker Azharul Haq, Vice President, BWP participated on behalf of BWP in the roundtable

discussion.

Dialogue on Strengthening India-Bangladesh Relations: Sustainable Development and Poverty

Eradication

A dialogue on Strengthening India-Bangladesh Relations: Sustainable Development and Poverty

Eradication were held from 15-16 April, 2012 at PKSF Bhaban, Dhaka organized by Bangladesh

Unnayan Parishad (BUP). On day 1, the first session was entitled “Strengthening Economic Relation

between India and Bangladesh” chaired by Mr. Yususf Ahdullah Harun, Chairman, Incontrad Ltd. and

discussion was initiated by Dr. Binayak Sen, Research Director, BIDS. The second session was

“Cooperation between India and Bangladesh on Poverty Eradication” chaired by Professor K C

Sivaramkrishnan, Chairperson, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi and discussion was led by

Professor M. A. Baqui Khalily, Department of Finance, University of Dhaka and Member, General

Body, PKSF.

Professor M. A. Baqui Khalily presented an analysis for poverty alleviation and introduced a major

poverty alleviating program – “ENRICH” launched by PKSF. Mr. Khalily suggested that public-private

or GO-NGO partnership is a requirement to operate poverty alleviation. A public policy on building

partnership will be meaningful. Mr Khalily further stated “Poverty alleviation itself is a challenge. It is

a problem for both India and Bangladesh. We need to learn from each other. A collaboration

agreement at least among the scholars and civil society is required. Integrated approach can be

experimented in different environment.” While there are bilateral trade and investment issues

between Bangladesh and India for continuous dialogue and negotiation, Mr Khalily suggested that

these two countries together should have a focused approach to poverty, micro finance and social

development. Mr. Khalily proposed that a joint platform or commission on poverty, Micro Finance

and Social Development be constituted that will be involved in continuous research, dissemination of

information, continuous dialogue on policies and consistent advocacy on poverty, micro finance and

social development policy reforms.

On day 2, the first session was “Cooperation between India and Bangladesh on Climate Change”. The

discussion was led by Dr. Ansarul Karim, Climate Change Specialist. The second session was

“Cooperation between India and Bangladesh on Water Management” chaired by Mr. Mostafa

Fauque Mohammed, MP and discussion was initiated by Prof KBS Rasheed, Professor (Rtd),

University of Dhaka.

The Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) region offers opportunities for optimal water resource

development through cooperative efforts. Lack of trust of transparency has bedeviled the

relationship among the co-riparian countries for nearly half a century, which only compounds the

misery and poverty of the people. Over the last few years a new approach of regional cooperation

has emerged in northeastern South Asia, encompassing four countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal and

Bhutan.

Along with quantity aspects the water quality, particularly in the low flow months, has also become a

matter of great concern in recent decades. The countries of GBM region may have to determine

together how to coordinate their actions in regard to pollution control with a view to dealing with

any cross-boundary transmission of pollution, and evolving suitable mechanism of data information

exchange on river flows and pollution status. They may consider also the possibility of setting

uniform water quality standards and exchanging their national experiences including those on

enacting suitable pollution laws and their enforcement. A regional monitoring system and real time

data exchange may be also useful.

In the concluding session Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Honorable Minister for Environment and Forest, GOB

was the Chief Guest, Mr. Pankaj Saran, HE the High Commissioner of India in Bangladesh was the

Guest of Honor. Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman, PKSF and Professor K C Sivaramkrishnan,

Chairperson, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi were the Chair. Dr. Khondaker Azharul Haq, Vice

President, BWP participated on behalf of BWP in the dialogue.

PART 3: REPORT BY BHUTAN WATER PARTNERSHIP

Call for project proposals for the water conservation projects

One of the mandates of the BhWP is to support community based projects that would help conserve

water and its management. Therefore, in order to allow the community to participate in the water

conservation activities which are community based and for the community benefit, BhWP made a

call for proposals. Such initiatives will address adaptation to climate change and other emerging

challenges at local and national levels.

BhWP website

Although BhWP does not have independent website, information on BhWP has been included on the

Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) website (www.rspnbhutan.org). Information on recent

activities and pictures were uploaded and a list of new BhWP members was also included. This

updated information will help the GWP-SAS and GWP understand more about BhWP and its

programs.

GWP India GWP India facilitated and participated in India Water Week-2012 organized by Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India from 10-13th April, 2012 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Water is the prime input to the growth and prosperity of a nation. Keeping in view the vital role of water in all aspects of life and also in assuring sustained development of economy, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India since the year 2012 have endeavored to celebrate India Water Week annually, to focus on the water issues and provide a global platform for water solutions that brings the policy makers, industry leaders, experts, professionals and practiceners together to address the challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities, recognizing the excellence of professionals/organizations and celebrate the achievements in the India Water Week. With the above background, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India celebrated India Water Week (IWW)-2012 from 10th to 14th April, 2012 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The main theme of IWW-2012 was “Water, Energy and Food Security : Call for Solutions”. More than 1000 experts/professionals from India and abroad participated in the IWW-2012. The IWW-2012 was inaugurated by Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and lighting of lamp ceremony was performed by Mr. Pawan Kumar Bansal, Hon’ble Minister of Water Resources, Government of India. Dr. Ania Grobicki, Executive Secretary, GWP, Mr. Chaminda Rajapakse, Senior Network Officer, GWP-South Asia and GWP-South East Asia, Prof. S R Hashim, President, GWP-India, Dr. Veena Khanduri, Executive Secretary, GWP-India and present and former Board Members of GWP-India participated in this mega event as Chairman and key speakers in the various sessions. Mr. A D Mohile, former Board Member, GWP-India was the Chairman for the sub-theme “ Integrated Water Resources Management” and Dr. Ania Grobicki, Executive Secretary, GWP was the Co-Chairman.

From left : Mr. A D Mohile and Dr. Ania Grobicki

(Chair and Co-chair respectively in the

Technical session on IWRM)

Dr Ania Grobicki who was invited as Co speaker in Integrated Water Resource Management, presented her views on moving IWRM process which require prioritizing and sequencing actions to achieve short, medium and long term objectives. She also emphasized that GWP partnerships can support this process as neutral platforms for collaboration. GWP also has an opportunity to help bring diverse groups together to define common

agendas and develop and implement plans for action as demonstrated by the GWP supported partnership for Africa’s Water Development. She also flagged that integrated approaches to water resources development, management and use remain a critical element for sustainable development. Integration requires horizontal inter linkages among sectors (water, food, energy and environment) as well as the need for protection against water related conflicts and disasters. Hence continued effort is required to strengthen the institutional framework at all levels.

Prof. S R Hashim, President, GWP-India was

the Co-Chairman for sub- theme “ Water

for Food Security”. Prof. Hashim told the

gathering that India’s per capita net

availability of food grains has declined.

However, population is less poor and

people are definitely less hungry now than

they were in the decades of sixties and

seventies. Food basket has diversified

significantly with rising incomes.

Projections of food grain requirements

therefore will have to take some of these

realities into account. India may still need

to produce something around 400 million

tonnes of food grains by the middle of 21st

century. Targeting even 400 million tonnes of food grains production will put a lot of strain on the

available water resources in the country. Food security and rural livelihoods are intrinsically linked to

water availability and use. Food security is determined by the options people have to secure access

to own agricultural production and exchange opportunities. These opportunities are influenced by

access to water. Many regions in India are already facing water deficits; any further decline in water

resources will greatly impact food and livelihood security.

GWP India (India Water Partnership) organized a Side Event on Approach of Draft National Water

Policy (DNWP)-2012 in context of Climate Change” during India Water Week-2012

Dr Ania Grobicki addressing the gathering during IWRM

Session

Prof. S R Hashim addressing the participants in the

Technical Session on “Water & Food Security”

GWP-India organized a Side Event on

“Approach of Draft National Water

Policy-2012 in context of Climate

Change” during India Water Week-

2012 at Central Board of Irrigation and

Power, New Delhi on 13th April, 2012.

Seventy experts/water professionals/

engineers from Central Water

Commission, National Water

Development Agency, Ministry of

Water Resources, Government of

India, representatives of Department

of Water Resources of different States

of India, Planning Commission, Govt.

of India, GWP-India partners including

board members participated in the side event.

From GWP side, Mr. Chaminda Rajapakse, Senior Network Officer, GWP-South Asia and GWP-South East Asia, Prof. S R Hashim, President, GWP-India, Dr. A N Sharma, Vice-President, IWP, Dr. Prem S Vashishtha, Regional Council Member, GWP-SAS, Dr. Veena Khanduri, Executive Secretary, GWP-India and present and former Board Members of GWP-India participated in the side event. Dr. A N Sharma, welcomed the participants and highlighted the

importance of this side event. The Keynote address was delivered by Prof. S R Hashim who is also a member of the Drafting Committee of Draft National Water Policy, 2012. The concluding remarks and vote of thanks was given by Dr. Veena Khanduri . DNWP, 2012 is divided into 16 sections. Although Section 4 is specifically devoted to Adaptation to Climate Change, this sub-theme runs through several sections at different places. DNWP (2012) explicitly recognizes certain aspects such as importance of storage of water, agricultural system that maximizes use of water and stakeholders’ participation and

Participants in the side event on Approach of Draft

National Water Policy-2012 in context of Climate

Prof. S R Hashim, President, India Water Partnership delivering

the Keynote Address during the side event in

India Water Week-2012

institutional arrangements. Hence keeping in view these sub-themes, the purpose of this side event was to discuss how far the DNWP-2012 addresses the issues in the context of climate change. A very fruitful and thought provoking discussion took place during the event.

Mr. Chaminda Rajapakse mentioned that the climate change is likely to increase variability of water

resources affecting human health & livelihood of community. Therefore special impetus is required

to enhance the capacity of community to meet the challenge at local level by adopting climate

resilient technologies. He further emphasized that the adaptation strategies could be to increase

storage, improve soil conservation and adopt compatible agriculture strategies, and cropping system

to meet the climate variability.

Mr. Chaminda further stressed that we need to acknowledge that climate changes the water rules

and it is the primary medium through which climate change will impact people, ecosystems and

economies. To deal with climate variability, an integrated approach of Three I’s is suggested i.e, (i)

Better and more accessible Information ; (ii) Stronger and more adaptable Institutions; and (iii)

Infrastructure to store, transport and treat water.

Dr. D M More, Former Director General R & D, Water Resources Deptt. Govt. of Maharashtra and

Technical Advisor, Water Resources Deptt. , Govt. Of Maharashtra said that India’s first water policy

of 1987 was revised in 2002 and same is now again being revised vide DNWP – 2012. Drying of rivers

and streams, continuous declination in ground water level, poor efforts towards recharge to ground

water, pollution of ground water and lakes, rivers turning into dirty drains on account of discharge of

untreated liquid as well as solid waste, unabated encroachment into natural river courses, poor

maintenance of water infrastructure, low water use efficiency, low productivity of water and land,

are the few flaws and gaps observed even after these policies.

Dr. More further said that the draft of the new policy is very comprehensive and has proposed some

important changes, like, need to modify the Indian Easements Act 1882, contract for construction of

projects to have inbuilt provision of maintenance of infrastructure and so on. The priorities cannot be

same for all the basins/sub basins across the country. These hydraulic units vary widely in regard to

water availability, climate, land, cropping pattern, industrial development and so on. This is a

basin/sub basin specific issue and decision could be influenced by the views of the

stakeholders’/users together.

Prof. Vijay Paranjpye criticized the view that increasing, larger storages will be the panacea for

decreasing the climate change impact. While increasing storages can respond to some impacts like

increasing or changing locations of aridity they are not likely to answer many of the other impacts of

climate change.

In terms of institutional changes, it was pointed out that merely putting into place water user

associations and such other societies can touch barely 15-20% of the irrigated areas where canal

irrigation is possible and therefore it is not an adequate institutional measure for responding to

climate change. Since most states have more than 60% of area devoid of canal irrigation schemes, a

totally different institutional system will be required, e.g. association of riverine fishing communities

which looks at the impact of disappearing water front’s or natural riverine lakes. Similarly,

associations of farmers in the rain-fed agricultural areas would need to be given technical support for

responding to longer dry spells.

Assessing Drinking Water Systems in the Wainganga River Basin with the civil Society groups

Although the Wainganga river basin falls in the assured rainfall zone, the districts of Bhandara and

Gondia in particular and Vidarbha in general become arid from March till the onset of monsoons due

to rise in temperatures above 44 degrees. Most rivers which have intercepts such as weirs, barrages,

major and medium dams have reduced or almost have no flows. Water in most tanks is at its lowest

level and there is a competition for the limited water resource for drinking water, agriculture, and

fisheries. The problem of drinking water scarcity is more pronounced in forest villages which often

have administrative problems. e.g. many villages in remote areas have non-functional tube wells or

tanks due to lack of maintenance. Often transport of materials, personnel to remote villages in forest

areas is difficult due to lack of proper roads further worsening the problem.

Thus, the problem of water scarcity in the region during summer months is not only due to climatic

factors but also owing to socio-economic variables. The local civil society groups therefore felt a need

to specifically assess the status of drinking water supply in the region. The Gomukh Trust for

Environment and Sustainable Development which is also the West Zone Water Partnership

Coordinating Agency of GWP-India held meetings in Bhandara, Gondia and Gadchiroli districts for

formulating a plan which would respond to the drinking water scarcity in these regions. During the

meetings, it was decided that 8 villages in the Wainganga river basin will be specially selected for

assessing the drinking water technologies and schemes and their status. Local groups like; Bhandara

Nisarg Va Sanskruti Abhyas Mandal and Srishti would be assisting the West Zone Water Partnership

in this survey.

Broad issues which form the objectives of the larger Wainganga Master Plan like use of appropriate

technologies, building resilience to climate change, equity, gender balance, etc. will be included while

studying the status of drinking water systems in the region. It will help in reinforcing the need to

invest in providing basic infrastructure in the region and also to pin down the specific issues with

respect to drinking water supply that plague to region. The study will be integrated into the larger

Wainganga Master Plan.

Seminar on “Climate Change, Water and Food Security”

GWP-India partner Sharda University, NOIDA (Uttar Pradesh) organized a Seminar on “Climate

Change, Water and Food Security” on 21st April, 2012 at the Sharda University campus. Prof. S R

Hashim, President, GWP-India was the Chief Guest and he delivered the keynote address.

The seminar was divided into four technical sessions viz ; Session-I : Climate Change: Melting of

Himalayan Glaciers, Droughts and Floods; Session-II : Climate Change: Impact on Agriculture

Production and Food Security; Session-III : Augmenting and Managing Water Resources; and Session-

IV : The Way Forward. Prof. Prem Vashishtha, GWP India coordinated this Seminar. Promotion of an Area Water Partnership for Prevention of Pollution to River Ganges in Jazmau Area (Municipal Zone-2) of Kanpur City (Uttar Pradesh)

The GWP-India is supporting Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development (SPWD), New Delhi to promote an Area Water Partnership in the Jazmau area of Kanpur City, Uttar Pradesh to

understand the challenges for provision of water and sanitation services to the residents of the areas as well as to bring all the stakeholders together to prevent the pollution to river Ganga from urban and industrial pollution. NGOs SACH and Shramik Bharti are supporting SPWD in this endeavor. During the month of April, 2012, discussions were held on 7th and 8th April, 2012 in two wards namely Ward number 10 (rural) and ward number 86 (urban ward). There were also separate discussions with the Tannery owners associations. The main issues that emerged in the urban ward were the following: a. Non - availability of potable drinking water both in the urban

and rural ward. b. Lack of proper sanitation facilities. c. Piling up of garbage and d. related health issues due to polluted water and lack of

sanitation e. importance of prevention of pollution the river Ganges for the

effective solution to water and sanitation problems of these wards and the zone as a whole.

In the rural ward, the main issue was that the polluted water is severely affecting the agriculture land, agriculture production and health of the people. The President and the General Secretary of the Small Tannery Association also participated in the meeting. They said that the Jal Nigam is responsible for treating the city sewage including the Tannery waste water. The Tannery associations were paying the waste water treatment charges to the Jal board. However there were shortcomings in effective treatment of the city sewage which was causing pollution to the rural area as well as to the Ganges river. The following points were also made:

The city sewage is made to pass through Ward 10-rural ward for irrigation purpose , before discharging into Ganga river. Since Jajmau is located at the down stream of Ganga, the sewage water of entire city flows through Jajmau, particularly the rural ward.

The city domestic sewage, and Industrial sewage including those of tanneries is treated in a common treatment plant. Since the tanneries are situated downstream in the Jajmau area, they have achieved the ill reputation of being responsible for Ganga pollution in Kanpur.

From the discussions in the meeting, it emerged that the tannery owners were one of the key stakeholders both as contributors to the problems and also to find the solution. Hence it was decided to have more direct interactions with them in the next few months.

There is need to prepare village/slum level water and sanitation micro-plans to be clubbed at ward level which suggests problems as well as probable solutions also. These need to be used as advocacy tools with the city authorities for making necessary allocations at the ward level and making other changes in the administrative action to solve the problems.

Need to develop an AWP at the ward level and zone level including all the stakeholders to help people collectively address the issues.

Need for a dialogue between Pollution Control Board, Jal Board and the tanneries to evolve a solution.

GWP-India is facilitating SPWD, SACH and Shramik Bharti to organize a dialogue on the ground which will be the basis for developing the appropriate stakeholders’ forums at the area and ward level .

Ward level meeting of AWP on

7th April, 2012 at Jajmau,

Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh)

Building Community Capacities on IWRM in Urban Slum Areas of Delhi GWP-India has supported Development Alternatives (DA) to undertake a small project “Building Community Capacities on IWRM” in urban slum areas of South and South-West Districts of New Delhi. The objectives of the project are; (i) Create awareness about water resource management through community mobilization; (ii) Create a cadre of community mobilisers to communicate to communities ; raise funds to promote and sustain these activities. This project aims to develop the capacity and capability within a community to generate and sustain good health practices with respect to Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) in a participatory manner. There is a special emphasis on Household Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) systems to ensure water security for the communities. Youth and women in urban slum areas are the primary target groups under this project. The targets for intensive interventions under the project are urban slums and other poor habitations in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) of India. In order to build the capacities of community moblisers in communicating HWTS messages, customized communication packages are being designed. The packages cover concerns of safe water and the need for purification. It will build their capacities to disseminate knowledge and information on HWTS options available, access routes, benefits and constraints. It will also equip them with communication messages and tools to effectively reach the target audience. Participation in Workshops/Conferences Dr. Veena Khanduri, Executive Secretary, GWP India participated as a Panelist in a high level panel discussion on “Future Challenges in Integrated Water Resources Management” on 25th April, 2012 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi during Aquatech India 2012 (International Conference & Exhibition). Aquatech India is being supported by International Water Association (IWA), India Water Works Association (IWWA), Ministry of Urban Development, Govt. of India and Water Quality Association (WQA). The other panelists were Mr. Nilakesh Kothari, General Manager, Maintowoc, USA, Dr. T N VV Rao, Regional Head- Water Business, Underwriters Laboratories, India and Senior Advisor & Head, GIZ, India. She explained in brief about the GWP-India’s current projects in context of IWRM in three States, namely; Maharashtra, Orissa and Rajasthan. It was pointed out that Maharashtra State had made some fundamental changes in its water policy and passed critical laws and framework. On the basis of this legal framework, Godavari River Basin Corporation initiated the process of master planning of IWRM in Godavari river basin. From 2011, the GWP-India Zonal Water Partnership Coordinating Agency had been engaged by the Maharashtra Water Resources Department for preparation of Master Plan for Integrated Water Resources Development for Wainganga river sub-basin. GWP India facilitated Stakeholders Consultations for initiating participatory negotiated approach for planning process. In Rajasthan, the GWP-India with the support of its partners reviewed the New State Water Policy (NSWP) in context of IWRM. The partners reviewed the policy and recommended that as per policy the definition and understanding of IWRM is very context specific and needs to consider local realities as per the requirements of the communities. Accordingly, GWP-India in 2010 and 2011 organized several workshops/meetings for the capacity building of Water User Groups, NGOs, Engineers, and Administrative Officers who would be involved in IWRM planning.

Strengthening of Peoples’ Area Partnership (PAWP), Dhenkanal District, Orissa

In continuation of the efforts of Arun Institute of Rural Affairs, Dhenkanal District, Orissa for

strengthening Peoples’ Area Water Partnership, the Local Area Water Partnership (LAWP)

representatives Mr. R.K Parida, Mr. C.S. Sahoo and Mr. D.K. Mohanty met and discussed with

government officials of Minor Irrigation, Kamakhyanagar to take up minor structure works of water

harvesting on the Indrajeet Nallah. Besides, they also met with the officials of Rural Water Supply

Scheme (RWSS) to take up minor repairing work of hand pumps installed in different villages for

drinking water purpose.

PAWP representatives Ms. Parvati Sethy and Mr. Golak Bihari Panigrahi met and discussed with the

Executive Engineer, Minor Irrigation, Dhenkanal Division, Dhenkanal with a request -cum-

memorandum on behalf of the farming community of the whole area.

Formation of Shivana Area Water Partnership at Mandsaur (M.P.) India Initiatives for formation of Shivana Area Water Partnership at Mandsaur (M.P.), under the aegis of GWP-India is getting more support from stakeholders of the Area which was quite evident in the second meeting of Adhoc Steering Committee held in Mandsaur on 17th April 2012. Representatives of over a dozen institutions and organisations participated in the meeting and resolved that they would provide necessary resources and inputs to the Adhoc Steering Committee to expedite the process of formation of Shivana AWP . It was observed that formation process may be slow but it must be sound, steady and sustainable. It should also have full support of local authorities. The meeting , chaired by Shri Narendra Singh Sipani, CMD , Micro Chemicals ,Mandsaur, listed following tasks to be completed along with finalising the structural/organisational details of the AWP. 1. Prepare a list of stakeholders in water sector in Mandsaur district and contact them to make

them aware about the new initiative and its importance for their benefit . 2. Prepare a map of catchment area of Shivana River showing important towns and villages

and places suitable for water conservation. Engineer Shri Sunil Vyas , representing Water Resources Deptt, Govt. of M.P., volunteered to start the work for preparing a 20 year perspective plan for development of Shivana River catchment area. It was decided that he will present a report in the next meeting to be held on 6th May 2012, when organisational structure of the AWP would once again be discussed. The members present in the meeting thanked the Central Zone Water Partnership Coordinating Agency; Navadeep Voluntary Organisation, Indore & Coordinator of Kshipra Area Water Partnership, Indore for its valuable guidance to enrich and enhance the thought process on formation of Shivana AWP. It found publications of GWP, IWP and KAWP useful for its aforesaid tasks. Prominent among those who attended the meeting were Messers Sunil Vyas, Gopal Pancharia, Yogesh Gupta ,Vikram Vidyarthi, Ashok Agrawal, and Shailendra Harkawat.

Awareness Generation on Water Conservation, Water Management through Media Action Group

through Amritam Jalam Campaign

The Media Action Group, Rajasthan, a GWP partner has its reach in 7 States of India viz ;Rajasthan,

Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal with readership of

more than 18.2 million as per Indian Readership Survey. Although the organization works on many

fronts, it publishes a number of articles on the best practices and success stories on water

conservation, water management, watershed development, restoration of dead water bodies, etc.

and campaigning on de-silting of water reservoirs.

For more details, please log on to following links about the Media Action Group blogs (April, 2012)

which advocate for water saving, water conservation, water management, etc.

http://www.mediaactiongroup.in/?s=Amritam+Jalam+

http://www.mediaactiongroup.in/?s=Water+

TITLE: Monthly Report - GWP South Asia

REV. NO.: 0

DURATION: April 2012

REGION: South Asia

MEMBER COUNTRIES: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

Part 5: REPORT BY NEPAL WATER PARTNERSHIP

Consultant- Climate Change Study

GWP Nepal/JVS appointed Prof. Ashutosh Shukla as a research consultant to conduct a study entitled

“Systematic Record of Climate Change realities on agricultural households/communities and coping

mechanisms adopted or practices in Khokana, Lalitpur and Damak, Jhapa”.

Contract with ICIMOD

GWP Nepal/JVS as a lead institution and saciWATERs, Hyderabad (India), as a partner institution,

signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and letter of agreement (LoA) to jointly implement a

project entitled “Benefit Sharing Mechanism in Storage Projects: Lessons for Region”, with the

International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) for the South Asia Water

Initiative (SAWI) Multi Donor Trust Fund’s Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) Small Grants Program (SGP).

Hydro Nepal - Special Issue

HYDRO Nepal, the journal of Water, Energy and Environment is owned and published twice a year by

GWP Nepal/JVS and Media for Energy Nepal. It is the recipient of India Power Award 2009 where it is

accredited as an International Journal.

A special issue of HYDRO Nepal, containing the papers presented in the National Conference on Food

Security and Climate Change in Nepal was published in April 2012. This conference was organized by

the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in collaboration with Department of Irrigation

(DOI), International Network on Participatory Irrigation Management (INPIM) and Nepal Agriculture

Research Council (NARC).

Part 6: REPORT BY PAKISTAN WATER PARTNERSHIP

Chairman PWP chaired the concluding session of the International Conference on Water, Food and

Environment held by the Centre of Excellence in Water Resources of the University of Engineering

and Technology, Lahore, on 5 April 2012 and delivered the concluding address. In the same

conference, the Regional Chair, GWP-SAS made the keynote address titled “Water Resources

Development and Management in the Indus Basin: Issues and Challenges” on 3rd April 2012 and

chaired a technical session titled “Integrated Water Resources Management for Food Security” on

4th April 2012.

PWP hosted a meeting of the Regional Chair, GWP-SAS and Mr. Khalid Mohtadullah, Senior Advisor,

GWP/Director IWMI-Pakistan on 9th April 2012 to finalize a presentation on “Food Security

Challenges – Asia: The Indus Case” to be made at the Mekong2Rio: International Conference on

Trans boundary River Basin Management, Phuket, Thailand on 1-3 May 2012. Country Coordinator,

PWP assisted them in the successful discussions and finalization of the abstract/presentation.

The first draft of the book of essays from a competition held in Rawalpindi Schools on the

“Importance of water conservation in Human Life” was prepared and is now at the proof reading

stage. The final draft will be sent for printing by end of May 2012. Wider circulation of this book in

Rawalpindi Schools will be arranged in order to create water awareness and encourage similar

competitions among students.

Dr. Pervaiz Amir, Member PWP/GWP-SAS’ RPE led a 20 member Pakistani delegation to the 6th

International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change (CBA-6) organized by

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Viet Nam Government in Hanoi, Vietnam on

16-22 April, 2012. The Conference was aimed at;

Bringing together stakeholders and practitioners to share and discuss knowledge of

community-based adaptation (CBA) planning and practices from different parts of the

developing world, particularly from Vietnam,

Capturing the latest learning and good practices in CBA from developing countries

Integrating lessons learned into national and international development programs in order to

ultimately enhance the capacity and improve the livelihoods of some of the most vulnerable

groups in developing countries,

Disseminating lessons learned at the Conference through daily communications, proceedings

and an immediate conference summary.

Regional Chair, GWP-SAS/Executive Director, PWP attended the 69th Board of Directors Meeting of

Peshawar Electricity Company (PESCO) at Peshawar on 26th April 2012 and contributed to decision-

making on energy management and administrative matters of the Electricity Distribution Company.

He also attended other two meetings of PESCO on 17th April and 27th April in Peshawar and

Islamabad respectively.

PWP, as per requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP),

Government of Pakistan under the Companies Act 1984, held its 12th Annual General Meeting of

Partners on 28 April 2012 where the partners reviewed, discussed and approved following PWP

matters presented by the Country Coordinator PWP;

Director’s Progress Report for the Year 2011.

PWP’s Audited Financial Statements/Accounts for 2011.

Appointment of Auditors for the Year 2012.

Work Plan and Budget 2012.

The PWP office was visited by the following partners/experts during April 2012 to enhance

collaborative efforts for imparting water awareness and implementation of Integrated Water

Resources Management in the country;

Mr. Ajaz Ahmad, Executive Director, Partners in Sustainable Development, Rawalpindi.

Dr. Pervaiz Amir, Director, Asianics Agro-Dev International, Islamabad.

Mr. Khalid Mohtadullah, Senior Advisor, GWP/Director, IWMI-Pakistan, Lahore.

Part 7: REPORT BY SRI LANKA WATER PARTNERSHIP

1) The 4th Programme Committee Meeting of SLWP was held on 9th April 2012. Financial report for the first quarter was tabled. The proposal to hold a Young Water Professionals Symposium as capacity building and policy support activity in the 4th Quarter was agreed on. 2) The first Steering Committee Meeting of SLWP for 2012 was held on 9th April at IWMI. Progress both programmatic and financial was discussed. Both are on track as programmed. Chair briefed the SC on the outcome of WWF6. Under the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN) the SL component had been concluded and report submitted to GWP SAS as thematic Node on Water for APAN. SC endorsed the Symposium for Young Water Professionals based on the Concept Note submitted and SC members agreed to promote it for sponsorship from both the private and public sectors. 3) A Gender and Water Dialogue for Field Staff of Puttalam District was organized in collaboration with the District Secretariat and NetWwater on 2nd and 3rd April. Focus was on issues of Irrigation,

water supply, health and sanitation in the context of climate change and IWRM. Fort two field officers of water related agencies and CBO/NGO participated at this first work programme organized by SLWP in Puttalam. A programme on ground water resources management and pollution mitigation of the ground water aquifer in Kalpitiya region was highlighted as needing attention and will be considered for a follow up programme, considering the request from the district. 4) A Field Programme on Micro Irrigation was organized on 4th April in collaboration with the Irrigation Department and Practical Action a SLWP partner. 45 farmers from Thaldena scheme in Badulla District/Uva Province were made aware of the advantages of adopting micro irrigation in water short systems. 4) A Sisu Jala Hamuwa Schools IWRM Programme as part of Water Day activity in the Central province rescheduled for 05th April was held in Kadugannawa Central College. This was a collaborative activity with the Local Lions Club, Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture and Capnet Lanka. Special reference was made to the Nanu Oya survey undertaken by the PGIA in the area last year and issues of water quality in Yatinuwara. 200 students and 5 teachers participated in this programme. Country Coordinator CapNet Lanka Dr. L.W. Galagedara coordinated this activity on behalf of SLWP. 5) Source Area Management and IWRM Programme in Upper Catchment of Maha Oya. The Maha Oya AWP with the Divisional Secretariat of Aranayake organized an awareness programme for stakeholders in the Maha oya catchment with participation of agencies including the Environment Ministry. 45 participants from the area attended this programme at which Chair SLWP, Senior Network Officer GWPO Mr Chamindra Rajapakse and a representative of IWMI Ms. Elizabeth Wright also participated.

SOUTH EAST ASIA

GWP-Southeast Asia Monthly Report – April 2012 LAO Water Partnership During January and February 2012, the Department of Water Resources (DWR), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) has implemented water resources management and development comprising of related activities as following:

1. DWR organized the workshop on the Integrated Water Quality Management in Nam Ngum

River Basin Demonstration Project on 20 January 2012 at Napakuang Resort, Thalat, Vientiane

Province

To initiate water resources management for further sustainable development in the Nam Ngum River Basin and to present / identify step forward for Nam Ngum river basin demonstration project implementing on integrated water quality management involving stakeholders as well as provinces, districts and local communities are the objectives of the workshop.

Participants from MoNRE, Line Agency, RBC, Provinces, District,

Developer gained knowledge and recognized the proposed

Integrated Water Quality Management Demonstration Project in

Nam Ngum River Basin as for pilot project has been the output

for this workshop.

This Workshop was supported by Government of Finland. 2. Field work and Stakeholders Consultation Workshop on Integrated Sekong River Basin

Management, during 30-31 January 2012, Attapeu

Province.

To organize the technical consultation workshop with relevant line agencies, private sector and communities on integrated Sekong river basin management and holistic planning applying IWRM based planning and to conduct a field work in order

to study the current water resource development trend and management in the Sekong river basin including its future challenges, Lao WP held Field work and Stakeholders Consultation Workshop on Integrated Sekong River Basin Management, during 30-31 January 2012, Attapeu Province.

ANTICIPATED OUTPUTS

- Identified the key water resource management and development issue and current situation

in Sekong basin;

- Acquired some data and information on water resources development trend and

management in the basin for preparatory concept of integrated river basin management

toward river basin committee and its secretariat establishment at basin/local level in the

near future.

- Identified overall direction and planning for Sekong river basin and preparation to establish

the secretariat which will be working for the technical focal point in the basin.

The participants of this field work and technical consultation workshop consisted of representatives

from central agencies and donor and particularly participating of line provincial and district agencies

including some developers in Sekong river basin. This Workshop was Supported by Swiss

Development Cooperation (SDC) through IUCN

3. Consultation meeting and field trip plan on water quantity monitoring for Nam Ton watershed

held on January 10-12, 2012 in Sangthong and Hinheup Districts. Vientiane Capital and

Vientiane Province.

The objectives of this meeting and field work are:

- To explain and identify the proposed Water Quantity monitoring points and samplings;

- To know and review what has been already done and needs (may be some existing

equipments? such as flow meter?);

- To prepare the plan for equipments provision. After the meeting, a field visit will be

organized to select the sites where to install the equipments (Meteorology Station will be at

the district center, staff gauge along streams ideally bridges).

The outcomes of the meeting and field trip expected to be achieved are:

- Increased common understanding of the activities and implementation methodologies for

the water quantity monitoring.

- Identified the needs for the water quantity monitoring equipments in two district areas.

- Identified the locations for the installation of the water quantity monitoring in two district

areas.

- Identified local agencies and people for operating/maintaining of the equipments and

reporting system.

PARTICIPANTS The targeted participants of the meeting and field trip were attended by the representatives from the district level, especially the members of the Nam Ton Project Management Team from central -Coordinators, experts, District Natural Resources and Environment Office (DNREO), Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) and District Meteorology and Hydrology Office.

This Workshop was supported by: KFW 4. National Workshop on the National IWRM Support Programme (NIWRMSP), 2 February 2012,

ICTC, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR

1. OBJECTIVES

To present the NIWRMSP and the proposed work plans of the four ADB-supported components of the NIWRMSP, and to discuss these plans and the management of the programme with relevant IWRM stakeholders. 2. ANTICIPATED OUTPUTS

The expected outcome is a set of observations and recommendations to DWR on the proposed implementation of the NIWRMSP, with special focus on the coordination and linkages with relevant stakeholders, as well as commitment from these stakeholders to cooperate with the programme.

3. PARTICIPANTS

- Relevant MoNRE departments and institutes such as Department of Water Resources, Cabinet Office, Lao National Mekong Committee Secretariat, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Department of Social and Environmental Impact Assessment, Department of Environment Quality Promotion, Department of Natural Disaster Management and Climate Change, Institute of Natural Resources and Environment etc.

- Relevant departments of Ministry of Energy and Mines, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Planning and Investment and Ministry of Finance;

- Mekong River Commission Secretariat; - The Nam Ngum River Basin Secretariat and selected provincial departments and other river

basins in Lao PDR; - Banks and donors such as ADB, WB, AusAID, IFC, GIZ, Finnida, SDC, AFD etc; - Private developers from the hydropower and mining sectors; - Research and development organizations such as National University of Laos (NUOL) and

International Water Management Institute (IWMI); - Regional NGOs such as IUCN and WWF.

This Workshop was supported by: ADB, AusAID, Spanish Government

5. Steering Committee Meeting on Trilateral Project for Nam Xong Sub-river basin management,

27-28 February 2012, Vientiane Capital.

The objectives of the SC Meeting are:

¬ To discuss and finalise the work plan, progress of project implementation preparation of Department of Water Resources and related implementing agencies;

¬ To review and revise the work plan and activity plan; ¬ To mutual agree on project management and financial structure; ¬ To mutual agree on the next meeting of the Advisory Committee.

All participants understood and agreed on the executing and/or joint implementing agency which involved in the project management as well as the financial structure and the structure of the project and Project designed document has been approved. The project scopes budget line process and also responsibilities of project managers and organizations concerned. This Workshop was supported by: TICA and GIZ Thai Reported by: Department of Water Resources Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment GWP-SEA 24th Steering Committee Meeting

The GWP SEA 24th SC Meeting was held in Phnom Penh-Cambodia, on 10-11 April 2012. The main topic of this meeting are; The process for election of GWP-SEA Chair 2013-2015, long term home of GWPSEA Secretariat, Reviewing the statute and operational guidelines of GWPSEA,

sharing activity implementation plan 2012 from each country water partnership, the next SEA WF and the next SC Meeting.

At the end of the meeting, all participants visited Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) of Phnom Penh. More pictures can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwpsea/