Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Nov - Dec Vol. 9 No.6 | Page 10

NEWS in brief
AfWA Admitted in the UN’s Economic and Social
Council

Global Highlights

Concern mounts in Marshall Islands as high tides
swamp capital

Majuro counts cost of latest flooding as 30 ‘Pacific
The Economic and Social Council of
Warriors’ set off for Australia in canoes to highlight
the United Nations recently gave the
concerns
African Water Association (AfWA) the
special advisory status. This decision
was made during its management and
coordination meeting held last July 2014,
on recommendation of the Committee in charge of NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs). As an advisory
member, AfWA can, from now on, engage actively with
the ECOSOC and its auxiliary bodies, as well as with the
UN Secretariat, programs, funds and agencies, in various
ways. This particularly means the participation in meetings
and the access to the United Nations Organization, written
declarations and oral presentations at the Economic
and Social Council, or the use of the United Nations
Homes were damaged as high tides swamped the Marshall Islands on 9 October
infrastructures. On the other hand, the advisory
member has to present a report on its activities relating
By Sophie Yeo
to the support to ECOSOC work once every four years.
Call for proposals: Climate-smart water projects

Marshall Islanders have spoken of their growing fears after
high tides have swamped some of the country’s major
islands, flooding the airport and damaging homes.
The tiny islands, which sit just two metres above sea level,
are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
In March 2013, king tides caused the government to declare
a state of emergency, as 940 people were evacuated from
their homes.

The AWF has launched a call for proposals for the
“Preparation of Water and Climate Change Investment
Projects”. African organizations eligible for AWF grants are
encouraged to submit their proposal by Friday November
14, 2014
African organizations eligible for AWF grants are encouraged
to submit to the African Water Facility their proposal for
project(s) focused on the “preparation of climate resilient
water resources development programmes and projects” aimed
at building resilience to climate change in Africa for a chance
to be selected for receiving non-reimbursable grants ranging
in size from € 1 million up to € 3 million.
Projects prioritized
In its selection, the AWF will prioritize projects focused on
the “preparation of climate resilient water resources development
programmes and projects” that show strong climate and
water adaptation and/or mitigation emphasis. Components
focused on improving water governance in the context
of climate change and on capturing and disseminating
climate and water information and knowledge will be also
considered.

8

Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • November - December 2014

In an interview with RTCC Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, the
Marshallese poet who addressed the United Nations
climate summit last month, said the level of flooding was
unexpectedly high for this time of year.
“It was just a high tide. It shouldn’t have created that much
flooding. But just a small high tide is enough to create
flooding now, because of sea level rise and a number of other
factors,” she said.
“What’s happening now is we’re lying in wait until the next
disaster happens. And we know it’s going to be worse.”
Jetnil-Kijiner stunned heads of state at the UN when she
recited a poem at the General Assembly, written orginally
for her seven-month old daughter.
“We deserve to do more than just survive – we deserve to
thrive,” she said. “Dear matafele peinam, you are eyes heavy
with drowsy weight so just close those eyes, baby and sleep
in peace because we won’t let you down you’ll see.”
The UN’s science panel recently reported that up to 15%
of small islands could be wiped out if sea levels rise by just
one metre.
This is not a p