Bonn International Conference on Freshwater, 2001

Germany hosted the International Conference on Freshwater in Bonn in 2001, to take stock of progress made on water issues and sustainable development and to prepare the international community for the Johannesburg WSSD agenda on water. In recognition of the cross cutting nature of water, the theme of the meeting was; Water a Key to Sustainable Development.

The overwhelming success of Bonn was due to its very participatory nature, this provided a supportive, open and transparent atmosphere where civil society's voice was heard along with that of government. The main forum for NGO participation were the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue Sessions which were an opportunity for all perspectives to be communicated in an interactive dialogue. Representatives were Farmers, Trade Unions, Women, NGO's, Business & Industry, Scientists and Professionals. There were two dialogues:

• Equitable Access and Sustainable Supply for the Poor.
• Strategies for Sustainable and Equitable Management of Water Resources.

The stakeholder Dialogues were the first sessions at the conference and went some way towards setting the tone of the government discussions. Stakeholders were also invited to participate in all the working groups and plenary sessions. In the end the Bonn Recommendations are considered by NGO's to be an important milestone for open, intergovernmental decision making which has lead to some of the most progressive and integrated international policy frameworks for water by governments.

The Bonn Recommendations maintain that there is enough water for everybody, but only if we change the way we manage it.

Priority Areas

Governance

• Participation and joint action were recognised as essential for changing and improving the current situations of mismanaged resources. The involvement of local people, workers, NGO's and private sector in 'new partnerships' was a focus of the governance debate. These new partnerships can not only deal with service delivery, but also alliances can be built against corruption (an important issue at Bonn).
• Ensure that water infrastructure and services deliver to poor people.
• Sharing of upstream/downstream benefits (governments cautious about this).
• Protection of water quality and ecosystems via better governance.
• Manage risks to cope with variability and climate change by incorporating risk management into water policies thus decreasing vulnerability.
• Combating corruption effectively.

Water resources continue to be public goods

• All sources of funding must be strengthened from public to private tariffs and charges.
• Water services based on cost recovery objectives, but must not be a barrier to access by poor people. Use social targeting if needed.
• Cost recovery should focus on those who use the most water.
• Inefficient subsidies should be reduced and eliminated.
• Self-help potential of communities should be more widely used.

Capacity Building

• Importance of shared knowledge as foundation for decision-making.
• Educating formally and non-formally that water is finite, vulnerable and valuable.
• Importance of mass media to foster public awareness.
• Importance of enhancing the skills of the poor, especially amongst young people and women.