 Rainwater-Harvesting to Couter Drought-Associated Risks on the Andean Plateau (Altiplano) Rainwater Harvesting and Disaster Risk Reduction
Rainwater is increasingly recognised as a component of nature-based solutions that counter the impacts of flooding and drought. Accordingly, IRHA participated in the nature-based solutions workshop organised by the IUCN (8-9 May 2019, Geneva). At this event, nature-based solutions to drought risk in Senegal were discussed, and we shared our ‘Rain, Forests, People’ project with the IUCN team. They recently implemented a project to counter saltwater ingress in the Fatick-Thiès region. This area is listed on the IUCN’s ’Red List of Ecosystems’. Given our growing experience in implementing nature-based solutions, IRHA have now joined the FEBA network (Friends of Ecosystem-based Adaptation).  Training Senegalese Farmers in the Plantation of Tree Species that Enrich Soils
Rainwater Harvesting and Green Blue Infrastructure
Attending the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR; 13-17 May 2019, Geneva) gave IRHA’s secretariat an opportunity to follow how green, blue and grey infrastructure is being used to reduce disaster risk in countries including France and the Philippines. A key question in DRR debates is what motivates investment in blue and green infrastructure. From the conference discussion, it appears that the ecological, social, and environmental benefits of green and blue DRR infrastructure are increasingly recognised. Moreover, there is a growing consensus that time invested in preparing the ground for nature-based solutions is time well spent. Engaging closely with local communities to understand their needs, and identifying how cultivating ecosystem resilience can enable these needs to be met, appears key to project success.
Cultivating natural processes, like soil formation or mangrove swamp growth to implement DRR might sound like a new discovery. It is certainly one that needs to be reinstated, guided by statements including IUCN’s communication at the Global Platform for DRR. Encouragingly, narratives championing blue-green solutions to reduce disaster risks that are associated with natural hazards are integrated within some cultures already. > Read more
 Children Arriving at the Blue School in Trapiche Bajo, Bolivia
Creating ‘Blue Communities’ in Bolivia and Mexico
Rainwater harvesting was recently recognised as a ‘climate smart’ intervention at the 72nd World Health Assembly (20-28 May 2019). For rainwater harvesting to be championed in high-level political meetings, its utility needs to be demonstrated. Accordingly, IRHA aims to compile a database of rainwater harvesting initiatives undertaken to promote community health, food security and resilient ecosystems. Please, do tell us about your rainwater harvesting projects!
Success stories deserve to be shared! The Comunidades Azules or Blue Communities project, actioned in Oaxaca’s Huautla de Jiménez region by the Mexican NGO CICEANA and the Fundación Gonzalo Rio Arronte, is a great example of rainwater being channelled to improve a community’s well-being.
> Read more
IRHA is also pleased to report on the Blue School we implemented in Bolivia last year. > Read more News
Conferences
Global Water Partnership Meeting (25-26, June, 2019, Online).
The ‘follow the sun’ model of conferencing enables regional partners, located in the same region, to discuss key water resource management issues. The conference’s guiding questions include: What actions are members using to implement the sustainability goals of transboundary water cooperation and climate change resilience? Further information
Water and Development Congress and Exhibition (1-5 December, 2019, Colombo, Sri Lanka).
This gathering of water professionals, organised by the International Water Association, seeks to ‘get our water future right’. It is still possible to book a stand at this event and show-case your organisation’s water-wise work.
Training Opportunities
Geospatial Information Technology training is being offered to young women at a 5-day event, organised by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. Selected candidates will receive free training in Kathmandu, Nepal. Applications are open until 05.06. Further information
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