The event provided a platform for dialogue on inclusive and sustainable water resource management in Cameroon, strengthening collaboration among key stakeholders.
A major highlight was the delivery of the World Water Day message from the Director-General of UNESCO, emphasizing the urgency of addressing water challenges through science, cooperation, and equity, and calling for collective action to ensure sustainable and equitable access to water for all. UNESCO also contributed through its participation in a high-level round table on “Sustainable Water Management in Cameroon: Challenges and Opportunities,” where it reaffirmed its support to the country through the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), particularly in advancing integrated water resources management, strengthening knowledge systems, building capacities, and promoting climate resilience.
Discussions during the round table highlighted key challenges such as unequal access to water, climate variability, governance constraints, and financing gaps, while identifying opportunities for strengthened partnerships and policy action. Stakeholders, including What Water, the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy, the Special Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance, the Ministry of Decentralization and Local Development, and UNICEF, underscored the importance of coordinated action, decentralization, and inclusive service delivery to improve access to safe water, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Complementing the policy discussions, What Water organized awareness-raising activities under the theme “Water, a Source of Equality,” including a documentary screening, panel discussions, and an exhibition showcasing its impact in Cameroon. The organization highlighted its achievements, including the construction of more than 20 wells in remote communities and the introduction of innovative water digitization initiatives aimed at improving resource monitoring and management. These efforts contribute to enhancing water access in underserved areas and offer practical responses to local challenges where access to safe drinking water remains limited.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, enhance coordination, and accelerate progress toward sustainable and equitable water management in Cameroon, in line with the global objectives of World Water Day.
read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-and-what-water-mark-world-water-day-yaounde-advancing-dialogue-sustainable-water-management?hub=701
