March 2006

Corruption, Investment in Water to Reduce Poverty, and Future Food Production on Agenda at SIWI Sessions for the 4^th World Water Forum, March 16-22, in Mexico City

The Stockholm International Water Institute

the 4^th World Water Forum to be held March 16-22

at the Banamex Centre in Mexico City, Mexico

will bring together experts, authorities and non-governmental organizations who need to act in coordinated fashion; the notion of local actions for global solutions will be in particular focus at the gathering, which includes a ministerial component.

In Mexico, SIWI will:

• Convene or co-convene six important sessions (details below)

• Participate in the Swedish Water House-organised "Swedish Pavilion" which will highlight the country’s expertise and actors in water management and poverty reduction

• Serve as a co-convenor for the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) "Mega" session on March 18 together with the Global Water Partnership, World Water Development Report, United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Environment Programme

• Participate in the "Empowerment and Democratization" panel debate on March 22

• Participate in the launch of the comprehensive United Nations 2^nd World Water Development Report, which includes an important chapter submitted by the UNDP Water Governance Facility at SIWI.

• Participate in the UNEP Finance Initiative presentation of "Micro-finances for Infrastructure" during the Swiss Platform in the World Water Expo on Monday, March 20

• Participate in the launch of the Comprehensive Assessment’s art competition on communication of the CA’s messages

Specifically, SIWI will convene or co-convene the following sessions, each of which will contain expert panellists and a number of highlighted "local actions":

On Friday, March 17, 14:15 - 16:15, How to Overcome Corruption in Water Resources and Service Management? Action for Development (FT1.07) will be convened by SIWI, the Swedish Water House, the Asociación Interamericana de Ingeniería Sanitaria, and the International Initiative on Corruption and Governance. The long history of corruption in the water sector has not been offset by effective efforts to reduce it. Estimates vary dramatically—that anywhere from 10% to 40% of water sector finances have been lost to dishonest and corrupt practices. However, a consensus has gradually developed among policy makers and practitioners alike on the imperative of promoting transparency and honesty to achieve sustainable development. The objective of this session is to identify, support and discuss effective anti-corruption mechanisms from the local to the global level within relevant levels of transaction. In addition the session will present an initiative to form a network to combat corruption in the water sector.

On Friday, March 17, 16:30 - 18:30, Linking Poverty Reduction and Water Management - Reaching the MDGs through Investing in Water (FT1.04) will be convened by The Poverty-Environment Partnership (UNDP-UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and SIWI.

The session will show how investments in water can be an engine for accelerated economic growth, sustainable development, improved health and reduced poverty, and that the economic benefits generated considerably outweigh costs of investment.

On Saturday, March 18, 14:15 - 16:15, The Role of Water and Integrated Water Resources Management in the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (FT2.27) will be convened by the Global Water Partnership and SIWI. The session will present concrete examples of how problems of poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and gender inequality can in large measure be solved with water and sanitation as the key entry points.

On Saturday, March 18, 16:30 - 18:30, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the North (FT2.41) will be convened by the Northern Water Network (NOWNET), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the European Commission. SIWI is a member of NOWNET. The session will examine whether Northern countries really practice what they preach in relation to IWRM and if they’re truly in a position to promote and facilitate good water development and management practices through partnerships between Northern countries and through North-South knowledge exchanges.

On Monday, March 20, 11:30 - 13:30, Green and Blue Water Resources for Improved Livelihoods - Utilising the Rains for Intended Gains (FT4.41) will be convened by SIWI and the Stockholm Environment Institute. The session will increase the understanding of the role of blue and green water flows in food production, poverty reduction and ecosystem sustainability. Since many of today’s rivers, lakes and groundwater reservoirs continue to be overexploited, a new management paradigm which links land and water management is needed in order to feed a global population of some 9 billion by 2050. Some scientists say twice the world’s current water consumption may be needed, and green water may be the key.

On Monday March 20, 14:15 - 16:15, Assessing Livelihood and Environmental Trade-offs and Synergies for Water Management in Agriculture (FT4.37) will be convened by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, International Water Management Institute, Freshwater Action Network, Ramsar Convention, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). SIWI, through the Swedish Water House, supports the Comprehensive Assessment. The session will be the last opportunity to discuss and debate findings of this massive study before it is published. The Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, through research and its assessment process, assesses trends, conditions, challenges and responses in water management for agriculture in order to identify appropriate and effective investments for enhancing food and environmental security over the next 50 years.

richardemelson@hotmail.com

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SIWI Sessions at the 4th World Water Forum:

Corruption, Investment in Water to Reduce Poverty, Future Food Production and More!

4WWFBlue-GreenSession.pdf (0.28 MB)