GWP SAS currently represents six Country Water Partnerships (CWPs) in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. These Country Water Partnerships are independent and autonomous organisations brought together with the common objective of promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the region.
GWP Bangladesh (Bangladesh Water Partnership)
GWP Bangladesh was established on 30 September 1998 through an expert group meeting under the initiative of Mr Quamrul Islam Siddique, Former Chief Engineer, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). LGED is supporting GWP Bangladesh as the host Institution since the establishment.
Vision:
The overall Vision of Bangladesh towards 2025 is to develop a nation which is democratic, economically self-reliant, driven by coherent, secure, just and equitable principles, and consists of citizens whose capabilities and potentials are developed to a high degree.
The vision for the country’s water postulates a high level of progress in management of the country’s water resources for uplifting national economy and living conditions of its people on an equitable basis and maintaining ecological and environmental harmony.
Mission:
To provide strategic support to IWRM through coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in Bangladesh by maximising economic and social benefits without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.
GWP Bhutan (Bhutan Water Partnership)
GWP Bhutan is a consortium of water professionals and concerned individuals from various sections of the society working towards achieving the goals of IWRM. It is a non-profit entity affiliated to Global Water Partnership (GWP).
In 2001, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture officially launched the BhWP initiated by Public Planning Division (PPD) of Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). Mr Dasho Sonam Tshering, then Director of Department of Power, and Lyonpo (Dr) Pema Gyamtsho, Deputy Secretary, PPD, MoA were appointed as Chair and Co-Chair of BhWP respectively. Mr Kezang Jamtsho, PPD, MoA was nominated as the Secretary.
In 2002, according to a decision of Bhutan Country Coordinating Mechanism it was agreed that BhWP would function as a technical body to support National Environment Commission (NEC) and water sub sectors. BhWP Secretariat positioned in RSPN from February 2007 onwards.
Goal:
To ensure application of IWRM principles for the holistic and sustainable management of water resources across Bhutan in pursuit of Gross National Happiness.
GWP India (India Water Partnership)
Established in 2001, GWP India is a non-profit organisation with a goal of promoting IWRM. It has been accredited by the GWP headquartered at Stockholm, Sweden as Country Water Partnership (CWP) of GWP.
GWP India started as an informal body first under the Chairmanship of Prof S. R. Hashim (the Member Secretary, Planning Commission, 1997-98). After several changes in the administrative body of IWP, Dr R. K. Gupta started his tenure from 1 January 2013 as Chairman-cum-Managing Director, WAPCOS Ltd. and also as the President of GWP India.
GWP India has been active in promoting IWRM principles and practices through its network partners to support national development priorities. Some of the core priority areas are; promoting IWRM approach effectively through workshops and consultations to address adaptation to climate change with the support of Zonal Water Partners (ZWPs) across the country; encouraging use of innovative low cost water saving technologies by the farming communities; sustainable natural resource management; integrated domestic water management; promoting Area Water Partnership (AWP) for river basin management; conflict resolution on water sharing; inter-state trans-boundary water sharing issues; gender mainstreaming, etc.
GWP India prepared “India Water Vision-2025” during 1999, based on the projections for country’s water demand in 2025 on the initiative of GWP and South Asia Technical Advisory Committee. IWP established the concept of ZWPs in 2007 and working closely with the relevant water institutions, universities, CBOs/NGOs and other stakeholders at national, state and local level. GWP India board members and its network partners actively contributed in the reviews of National Water Policy 2002 organised by Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India. Further, it was well represented in drafting the National Water Policy 2012.
GWP Nepal (Jalsrot Vikas Sanstha)
In the context of Nepal’s under-utilised water potential, there is a clear need for networking and developing local, national, intra-regional, regional, inter-regional and international partnership to promote and help to utilise the resource through IWRM. GWP Nepal, under the network of GWP, has been initiated to promote networking in water resources and promote IWRM. The members of GWP Nepal have consensually decided to designate JVS as the host institution for GWP Nepal. This decision was guided by the concerns of sustainability and the significant networking characteristic of CWP. GWP Nepal holds a non-governmental, non-profit and non-partisan professional status. It is incorporated under Association Registration Act 2034.
Objectives:
Help formulate policies on IWRM.
Help sustainable conservation, utilisation and management of water resources.
Analyse the prevailing differences among donor agencies and recipient countries and suggest remedial measures.
Help develop methods for optimal utilisation of water resources.
Work for the development of integrated approach at the local, national, bilateral and regional level.
Coordinate and work collaboratively with partner institutions.
Share experience, knowledge and information on the development of water resources.
GWP Pakistan (Pakistan Water Partnership)
GWP Pakistan was established in February 1999. Soon after its establishment GWP Pakistan became instrumental in organising a number of important meetings at national and provincial levels to attract a large number of stakeholders. GWP Pakistan maintains close relationship with official agencies including the Ministry of Water and Power, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Ministry of Environment, Planning Commission, Provincial Agriculture and Irrigation Departments.
Mission:
To promote the concept and principles of IWRM in the country in order to meet the growing scarcity of water resources, increasing deterioration in water quality and the looming threat to environmental sustainability. Create awareness at grassroots level about the need and potential of adopting IWRM techniques to solve community base water and environment related problems locally.
GWP Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka Water Partnership/Lanka Jalani)
GWP Sri Lanka is an independent non-profit association with a goal of promoting IWRM in line with the concepts and principles outlined at international for a such as Rio, Dublin and 1st and 2nd World Water Forums. It is an initiative supported by the GWP. Membership is open and inclusive and currently represents a wide range of stakeholder interests. It has taken the initiative in developing the Water Vision 2025 for Sri Lanka in year 2000 and a Programme For Action (PFA) to translate the vision to action. It is being setting up AWPs, Youth networks and other basin level institutions to support River Basin Management (RBM) and IWRM in Sri Lanka. AWPs provide the local institutional base for representation and action at local level while the CWP and associated CEO panel provides the forum for policy level dialogue of these issues for consideration at national level. Both levels encourage close interaction among groups of stakeholders for the purposes of harmonising approaches and integrating issues.
