PHA-Exch> IUCN: Global Water Initiative created in response to world water crisis

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Vern Weitzel <vern.weitzel at gmail.com>
Crossposted from: "[Water and Sanitation WG]" <watsan-wg at ngocentre.org.vn>,
"[health-vn discussion group]" health-vn at cairo.anu.edu.au

http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2007/10/24_water.htm

Global Water Initiative created in response to world water crisis


A new partnership has been launched to address the declining state of the
world's fresh water supply and the lack of access to clean water services by
the
world's poorest people. The Global Water Initiative (GWI) brings together a
group of seven leading international NGOs, including Action Against Hunger
(ACF)
– USA, CARE, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), The World Conservation Union
(IUCN), International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED),
Oxfam
America and SOS Sahel – UK.

The announcement of the GWI comes at a time when more than one billion
people
lack access to improved water sources, and more than 2.6 billion people lack
adequate sanitation. Water resources are under increasing pressure from
human
use while communities are frequently affected by floods and droughts.

The GWI will work in 13 countries in Central America, West Africa and East
Africa to address the challenges of providing long-term access to clean
water
and sanitation, access to water for rural production, as well as the
protection
and sustainable management of ecosystem services and watersheds. The partner
organizations will focus on the needs of some of the world's poorest and
most
vulnerable communities including refugees and internally displaced persons.

Projects will deliver water and sanitation in rural communities. In
addition,
investments will be made to strengthen institutions, build capacity to
enable
organizations to initiate and sustain long-term projects, increase community
participation, improve local governance, facilitate inter-governmental
coordination and cooperation, raise awareness, emphasize innovation and
support
the development of responsible water policies. The projects at local and
national levels will help catalyze change toward better integrated
management of
water resources.

Examples of early projects include training micro-watershed committees on
risk
management issues; constructing and improving the water and sanitation
infrastructure in community schools; rehabilitating water harvesting ponds;
raising awareness of the  opportunities for multiple water use; and offering
leadership training to women.

The coalition of seven international organizations is a unique partnership
which
will combine capacities to support services in water supply, sanitation,
agriculture and environmental management. What makes the GWI distinctive
from
other development efforts is that all organizations have been involved from
the
outset of the initiative in collectively building the common vision and
sharing
the responsibility and accountability for implementing the GWI. The GWI will
provide strategic environmental and water resource analysis in addition to
policy development and raising awareness.

A specific highlight of this initiative is the opportunity to address
transboundary issues and regional watersheds in a broad approach. Combining
these strengths provides an unusual opportunity to support transformation of
water management in selected countries in close cooperation with other local
partners and agencies. Within the first two years, the GWI will demonstrate
practical approaches to achieving integrated water resource management,
supporting responsible water policy, addressing water conflict resolution
and
reducing water related risks. In its inaugural year, over US$15 million has
been
made available for implementing these activities in 2007. Similar levels of
resources are anticipated for the following nine years.

Funding for the GWI is provided by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. "This
initiative is designed to recognize and meet the needs of both domestic and
productive water uses, while combining integrated watershed management with
environmental accountability," stated Howard Buffett, President of the
Foundation. "It is our objective to utilize and leverage the experience of
our
partners to create a flexible and spontaneous approach to providing poor
communities access to safe drinking water. By building new constituencies,
creating stronger alliances and engaging all stakeholders, it is our hope to
create a new vision and an effective platform for change."   The Howard G.
Buffett Foundation funds water projects in 19 countries, but does not accept
any
unsolicited proposals.

*The Global Water Initiative works in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua,
Honduras, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya
and
Tanzania.

For more information:

Claire Warmenbol, IUCN Water Programme Communications Officer, Mobile: +41
79
404 1973, claire.warmenboliucn.org

Interviews: Photo and Bio of Dr Bergkamp, Head of the IUCN Water Programme
are
available online: www.iucn.org/themes/wani/contactus/
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