TWAP FSP 2nd Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting | 1-3 November 2013

The second Project Steering Committee Meeting was organized following the IWC7 in the Blue Horizon Hotel, Bridgetown Barbados, 1-3 November 2013. The meeting was co-chaired by Hartwig Kremer and Robin Mahon (CERMES).

The 2nd Project Steering Committee Meeting of TWAP FSP. From left to right: Geert-Jan Nijsten (IGRAC); Peter Koefoed Bjørnsen (UNEP-DHI); Kaisa Uusimaa; Joana Akrofi (TWAP PCU/UNEP/DEWA); Jaap van Woerden (UNEP/GRID-Geneva); Sherry Heileman (Consultant); Holger Treidel (UNESCO-IHP); Harwtig Kremer (UNEP/DEWA); Isabelle Van der Beck (UNEP/DEPI); Walter Rast (ILEC/ Texas State Uni.); LianaTalaue McManus (TWAP PCU/UNEP/DEWA); Robin Mahon (CERMES); Ivica Trumbic (Consultant); Albert Fischer and Julian Barbière (UNESCO-IOC). Other participants missing from the photo: Chris Severin; Steffen Cole Brandstrup Hansen (GEF Secretariat); Andrea Merla (consultant); Mish Hamid (IW:LEARN/UNOPS); Jackie Alder (UNEP/DEPI)

Meeting Objectives:

Review and finalize Workplan for 4Q 2013; 2014;
Scope out overall progress and adjust pace in 2014 accordingly
Broadly harmonize analyses of results at basin level
Explore and decide if analyses of results across basins is possible and generates added value
Identify knowledge products at Working Group, Cross-Group Levels
Review Data and Information Management Strategy:
Refine TWAP central and Component Group Communication Strategies and their relationships
Identify action points for sustainability of networking and outreach activities to TB basin assessment and management communities

Summary:

In addition to reviewing the progress of all components and discussing various project management issues, the main focus of the PSC discussions was on harmonizing the various water system specific products and the nature of the synthesis products. The main products are (1) Five Water System Technical Reports and summaries for policy makers and (2) the synthesis report, with different themes for each chapter and a Summary for Policy Makers. An overarching working group was established for the development of the synthesis product.

TWAP Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) acts as the main review committee for the TWAP. The committee consists of the following experts (Dr. Wilhelm Struckmeier (IAH), Dr. G. Chris Holdren (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation), Dr. Claudia Pahl-Wostl (University of Osnabrück), Dr. Andy Rosenberg (Union of Concerned Scientists / University of New Hampshire), Dr. Eric Lindstrom (NASA), Dr. Jakob Granit (SEI), Dr. Ashbindu Singh (formerly DEWA), Dr. Simon Courtenage (Uni. of Westminster), and Dr. Pierre Philippe Mathieu (ESA/ESRIN). The main review process will take place between August 2014 and March 2015

TWAP Data and Information Management & synergies with the IW:LEARN project and UNEP Live – In addition to the published reports, TWAP results and indicators will be accessible and presented in the Data Portal, developed by GRID-Geneva. TWAP Assessment Reports and the Data Portal are accessible though the project website (www.geftwap.org), which is developed by the PCU in collaboration with IW:LEARN. UNEP Live offers an ideal platform and an ultimate home for the TWAP data, indicators and the assessment results, as well as interactive, dynamic information sheets. The interactions with UNEP Live will be explored to ensure longer term sustainability.

The TWAP PCU will draft an outline for a sustainability strategy, which should be closely connected to UNEP Live development, to guide the water systems in developing their strategies for sustainability and developing a roadmap for a second cycle of assessments. At water system level, TWAP is largely sustained through other regular global assessments and the water system components will continue to engage with assessments and entities relevant to TWAP (such as WOA, RSP, WMO, UNCLOS, WWAP, ISARM, UNGA. Regional Projects, etc.).