WHO WE ARE
GWP Eastern Africa: Background, Mission, Vision, and Core Values
Background
Global Water Partnership in Eastern Africa (GWP-EA) was established in 2003 by regional stakeholders to support the sustainable development and management of water resources across Eastern Africa and the Greater Horn of Africa. GWP-EA operates as part of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) network and implements its mandate through approved regional work plans and budgets aligned with GWP’s global strategy.
GWP-EA currently comprises nine Country Water Partnerships—Burundi, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda—and works with over 200 partner organizations across the region. Through these partnerships, GWP-EA addresses pressing water security and environmental challenges, including droughts, floods, climate change, food insecurity, and water scarcity.
In line with GWP’s global approach, GWP-EA promotes Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) as a practical and inclusive framework for addressing water insecurity. Most countries in the region have developed and are implementing IWRM plans alongside climate adaptation strategies that address risks across interconnected sectors such as agriculture, energy, and ecosystems. GWP-EA’s strategy prioritizes mainstreaming climate adaptation and strengthening community resilience.
Governance
GWP-EA’s highest decision-making body is the Regional Consulting Partners (RCP) Meeting, which brings together all partners from the Country Water Partnerships. Strategic oversight is provided by the Regional Steering Committee (RSC), which meets regularly to guide programme implementation and future direction. The Regional Secretariat is hosted by the Nile Basin Initiative in Entebbe, Uganda.
MISSION:
As a regional network of partners, GWP-EA’s mission is to build alliances and strengthen institutional capacities to advance research, knowledge sharing, and policy dialogue on Integrated Water Resources Management. This aligns with the GWP network’s overarching mission:
“To advance integrated water resources management at all levels for sustainable and inclusive growth.”
VISION:
GWP’s global vision is a water-secure world, where water is available for social and economic development, supports healthy ecosystems, and where water-related risks are effectively managed.
GWP-EA Vision Statement
By 2030, countries in Eastern Africa and the Greater Horn of Africa achieve higher levels of water security and climate resilience, with communities experiencing tangible socio-economic and environmental benefits.
CORE VALUES
GWP’s core values unite all partners and underpin the partnership’s credibility, neutrality, and impact. Membership in GWP-EA requires commitment to these shared values.
GWP-EA and its partners strive to uphold:
- Inclusiveness
- Openness and transparency
- Accountability
- Mutual respect
- Gender sensitivity
- Solidarity
These values enable meaningful dialogue among diverse stakeholders, strengthen trust, and reinforce GWP-EA’s commitment to equitable and sustainable development—particularly for poor and vulnerable communities.
