Introduction to GWP-C

Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C): An Introduction To Our Work Presented by Avril Alexander – Regional Coordinator

Who is GWP-C? Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) is a working partnership among all stakeholders in water management in the Caribbean and was launched in Tobago in June 2004. GWP-C is the Caribbean arm of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) Organisation. This makes it 1 of 13 Regional Water Partnerships of GWP, which is a global network of partners who believe that an integrated approach to managing water is the best way forward in working toward a water secure world.

What is IWRM? Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is: A process of managing water, land and related resources in a way that meets society’s long-term need for water while ensuring that economic and social welfare is not compromised and that there is no harm to the environment. IWRM is about: Managing water resources at the lowest possible level. Managing demand for water and optimising the supply. Providing equitable access to water resources by a participatory approach. Establishing policies to help manage water resources. Engaging all sectors of the economy in the IWRM process.

Our Mission The mission of GWP-C is to support Caribbean countries in the sustainable management of their water resources and to fully promote and apply an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach at the community, national and regional level.

GWP-C is guided by an IWRM philosophy. Its core objectives are: To promote IWRM as the approach to water resources management in the Caribbean and to gain national commitment towards IWRM implementation. To establish partnerships in water resources management that endorse an integrated approach to water resources management. To improve water governance in the Caribbean through the promotion of IWRM and to implement IWRM policies and programmes. Key Objectives of GWP-C

The Global Network’s 4 Strategic Objectives To achieve its mission, GWP-C operates within the framework of the global network’s four (4) Strategic Goals: Goal 1: Promote Water as a key part of sustainable national development. Goal 2: Address critical development challenges. Goal 3: Reinforce knowledge sharing and communications. Goal 4: Build a more effective network.

Our Partners GWP-C currently has 60 partners spanning 20 Caribbean territories which encompass the English, Spanish, French and Dutch Caribbean and 2 partners in North America. These countries include: Anguilla, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, The United States of America and Canada. GWP-C’s partners include some of the following types of organisations: Public Water Management; Government Agency; Water User Association; Private Water Management; Non-Governmental Organisation; Consultancy Organisation; Youth Environmental Organisations; Research / Education / Training Organisations; Professional Association among others.

FUNCTIONS OF THE PARTNERSHIP NETWORK? 1. Mobilisation of resources to carry out an IWRM work programme geared towards facilitating members in fulfilling their objectives. 2. Identification of critical gaps and addressing these gaps through partners. 3. Provision of advisory services to members 4. Work with members to facilitate the training of scientific and technical personnel in the region in IWRM. 5. Collection and dissemination of information on fields of activities of concern to the Partnership, particularly as it relates to best practices. 6. Promotion and strengthening of interaction and co-operation at different levels and across the different sectors to sustain IWRM in the region and in particular to promote the formation of CWP

Governance Structure General Assembly Meeting of Partners at the Annual General Meeting, decisions on workplan and other business, voting on resolutions, election of partners to Steering Committee. Steering Committee Chairman, Deputy Chairman, seven other partners and the Network Officer from GWPO in Sweden. Secretariat Regional Coordinator, Communications Officer, Administration Officer, housed by Host Institution (NIHERST).

Our Work, Our Niche Four (4) key areas highlight the focus of GWP-C’s work: Advocacy - GWP-C advocates the implementation of IWRM as the best way to achieving water security. Convening Power - GWP-C has partners from various sectors and provides platforms at various levels to facilitate the development of IWRM policies and laws. Technical Expertise and Knowledge Sharing - As a regional arm of the GWP Organisation, GWP-C has the support of a global network and can provide technical expertise on IWRM and has access to various tools for knowledge sharing on IWRM. Capacity Building - GWP-C is committed to awareness building on IWRM at the community, national and regional levels targeting all demographics.

Specific Activities Awareness building on water conservation and IWRM in the Caribbean Capacity building and training in the following areas: - Climate change and its effects on water resources - Climate change and disaster management - Water and sanitation - Youth forums with environmental youth councils in the Caribbean - Economic and financial instruments for IWRM (Water Financing) - Water use efficiency in the Agriculture and Tourism sectors - Impacts and policy implications for water resources management Information dissemination and collation

Annual High Level Session (HLS) for Caribbean Ministers of Water to discuss critical areas in water resources management and the approach to creating and implementing IWRM policies in the region.

GWP Information Support GWP Toolbox - A knowledge sharing tool created by the global organisation which can best be described as on “Online IWRM Library.” The tool box is: Free Comprises of IWRM case studies from across the globe Reference that can be used by water experts, decision makers and anyone interested in learning about the management of water resources

GWP Information Support IWRM Publications and Promotional Material GWP-C is committed to knowledge sharing on water resources management and other environmental topics such as climate change. Here are some of the GWP-C resources available to you: GWP-C brochures and leaflets GWP-C water videos IWRM leaflets IWRM books CDs with information on “How to Manage the World’s Water Resources” Other publications on IWRM, climate change, water and sanitation, among other areas.

IWRM Publications and Promotional Material GWP-C Water Videos - GWP-C currently has 3 video productions on water scarcity and the flood risk management in the Caribbean. These videos are available by request to the GWP-C Secretariat. The videos include: Flood Risk Management and the Caribbean Water Scarcity and Population in the Caribbean Water: Is there enough for tomorrow?

For more information on GWP-C, please visit our website at: www.gwp-caribbean.org Thank You!

Introduction to GWP-C

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Introduction to GWP-C