India-EU Water Partnership (IEWP)
Current Affair 1:
News:
India and the European Union (EU) agreed to enhance cooperation in sustainable water management at the 6th EU-India Water Forum held on the sidelines of the 8th India Water Week.
The first Indo-European Water Forum, held in New Delhi on 23-24 November 2015, provided the impetus for setting up an Indo-European Water Partnership.
Projects under IEWP:
IEWP, currently in Phase III, focuses on creating impactful and sustainable solutions in key areas such as river basin management, climate resilience, urban flooding, and water governance.
Under IEWP, the EU and India are collaborating on river management on Tapi and Ramganga River Basins.
Under Phase III, the partnership will extend its efforts to other key basins like the Brahmaputra. Both regions have co-jointly funded 7 research and innovation water projects with €37.4 million (EU €23.4 M + India €14 M), bringing together 743 participants from the EU and India.
Why IEWP is important?
- The current phase (Phase III) prioritizes government and business partnerships, aligning with India’s National 2030 Agenda and the EU's Global Gateway Strategy.
- The India-EU Water Partnership is closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- In addition to contributing to SDG 6 and SDG 13, the partnership also supports SDG 15 (life on land) and SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) by promoting sustainable, green, and climate-resilient infrastructure.