With its new global strategy for 2009-2013, the Global Water Partnership (GWP) aims to push water higher up the development agenda. The strategy is the result of a full year of consultations and focuses on four major goals:

• promote water as a key part of sustainable national development;
• address critical development challenges;
• reinforce knowledge sharing and communications;
• build a more effective network.

“The Strategy has been developed during a difficult period. Development efforts are threatened due to unprecedented economic and financial volatility, and increased uncertainty facing the world. We are however excited that we can build on our past, and position ourselves to contribute to addressing urgent water-related challenges,” said GWP Chair Letitia A. Obeng.

Dr. Ania Grobicki, the newly-appointed GWP Executive Secretary, noted that “With communities, societies and nations under pressure from the economic downturn and from the effects of increasing climate variability, I believe passionately that GWP’s key task is to keep the focus on water security for all.” Dr. Grobicki takes up her new post on 11 March 2009.

[1] Global Water Partnership Strategy 2009-2013. PDF file .

Contact: GWP Secretariat, Sweden, gwp@gwpforum.org, http://www.gwpforum.org

Source: GWP, 27 Jan 2009

Tags: policies & legislation, water resources management