Kyoto 3rd world water Forum : Regional Days

Short summaries of the discussions during the 3rd World Water Forum.

Day of Africa

The African Water Vision was launched at the 2nd World Water Forum in the Hague.

The four main purposes of the Day of Africa in Kyoto were to:

  • Agree on a process for developing a common Africa strategy towards the Millennium Development Targets for water and sanitation and water for other productive uses

  • Discuss the roles that different external support agencies can play in the implementation of the strategy

  • Launch of the Africa Water Facility

  • Agree on a process for developing a common agenda for addressing water problems in Africa

In addition 4 parallel sessions were held which covered climate change and variability on African water resources, water and food security, the water and sanitation challenge and mobilising a Peoples Movement for Water in Africa. There were also discussions on NEPAD and the G8 Africa Action Plan.

Actions points and recommendations from Kyoto

  • Formation of the Africa Ministerial Council on Water (AMCOW) to give political leadership and coordinate various water initiatives in Africa
  • Preparation of the NEPAD water programme based on the Africa Water Vision and Framework for Action
  • Establishment of an Africa Water Facility to facilitate pooled funds for capacity building and investment support in Africa
  • Move water issues high up the development agenda by providing economic justification for including water supply and sanitation as well as water resources management into PRSPs
  • Strengthen River Basin Organisations and promote innovative shared water resources arrangements as instruments for subregional cooperation, economic development and conflict management
  • Adopt programmes targeted at vulnerable groups such as women, rural and urban poor and children that aim at efficient and sustainable use of water resources to promote economic development, income generation and food security
  • Efforts to put in place measures to ensure adequate environmental flows and to reduce and mitigate water-related disasters

Draft January Statement and the Final Statement (see related Data section)

Day of Asia and Pacific

Water and poverty was the central theme. One in three Asians does not have access to a safe drinking water source. Water is recognized as a basic need, and integrated water resources management is being promoted. Several organizations have embarked on actions to harness knowledge for resolving water problems and shared their experiences at the Forum, including a number of NGOs (e.g. Network of Women Water Professionals, Sri Lanka).

Action points and recommendations from Kyoto

  • Strengthen transparency in water resource management
  • Active participation of the water users
  • Decentralised management to ensure equitable access to water
  • Prioritise action to mitigate impact of natural disasters
  • Effective cooperative relationships in utilizing trans-boundary water resources
  • Promote institutional development, capacity building and public awareness

LINKS

Asian NGO Comments on Draft Statement of Asia and Pacific, 3rd World Water Forum 

Draft January Statement and the Final Statement (see Related Data section) 

Day of Americas

To translate the American Water Vision into concrete actions, several international organizations formed a coordination group to streamline the inputs to the Kyoto Forum from water users, institutions, decision-makers, industries, unions, and concerned citizens actively working on water issues on the continent.    

Key issues

  • Problems of water stress and quality stemming from increased population growth and urbanisation trends
  • Natural hazards and climate change
  • Macro and global economic factors conditioning water resource management

Actions and recommendations from Kyoto

  • Move towards the elimination of subsidies to agriculture in the developed countries
  • Transparent commercial agreements insofar as they impact water ownership at the local and national levels
  • Effective decentralization, participatory governance and regulation of the services in water management
  • Develop policies and regulations for an equitable and efficient distribution of water and poverty alleviation in rural and urban areas
  • Establish participatory and efficient systems for natural hazards management at the local and national levels
  • Apply an ecosystem approach to water resource management, including environmental services that can be sold
  • Improve water quality to be used by humans and to decrease pollution
  • Increase investment to improve the water sector infrastructure, to soothe the thirst of the poor and to improve their income, in accordance with the goals of the Millennium 

LINKS

FAN Central America Statement

Draft January Statement and the Final Statement (see related data section)

Day of the Middle East and Mediterranean

Water resource management issues in Middle East and Mediterranean region are among the most critical.

This regional day included participation by all Mediterranean countries, including all North African countries.

Actions and recommendations from Kyoto

  • Need for national decision makers to be involved where decisions are made at a regional level (e.g. EU)
  • In order to get to reform, need to work at various levels
  • Within legal and institutional reform there is a need for principles to go beyond direct interests to include solidarity and active participation of all stakeholders
  • Thinking in sustainability terms requires measuring progress and success not only in economic terms, change requires smooth evolution for making reform and this requires training and education
  • Securing financing is important because many initiatives lack continuity

Draft January Statement and the Final Statement (see related data section)  

Day of Europe

The European Union and the Global Water Partnership-Central Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean discussed how the Water Framework Directive is being implemented in the 15 Member States and the 13 candidate countries and present best practice in water management in Europe. It is also highlighted strategies of neighbouring countries that share transboundary waters or have bilateral or multilateral agreements with the EU.

The major EU Water Initiative "Water for Life," launched during the WSSD was presented on progress made since Johannesburg.

Concrete implementation projects addressing issues of access to water in terms of both quality and quantity from the perspective of local women's organizations were also addressed.

Actions and recommendations from Kyoto

EU Water Initiative

  • Finalize the design of the EUWI by the end of 2003. Move to delivery of projects in 2004 and beyond
  • Reinforce political commitment to action and raise the profile of water and sanitation
  • Use existing scientific knowledge and prepare for the future through joint research
  • Promote better water governance arrangements including stronger partnerships between public and private sectors and local stakeholders and build institutional capacity
  • Improve co-ordination and co-operation moving towards sector wide approaches
  • Establish multi-stakeholder processes
  • Promoting south-south collaboration and co-operation
  • Develop regional and sub-regional co-operation by integrated water resources management including transboundary waters t
  • Develop additional and innovative mechanisms and catalyze additional funding

Civil Liability

Local Partnerships

The NIS component of the EU water partnership should:

  • Promote affordable efficient sustainable solutions such as eco-sanitation, organic farming, rainwater harvesting and de-centralized waste water treatment
  • Develop Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) at all levels and include a building block on gender with a well-balanced representation of civil society grassroots womens organizations
  • Provide free high-quality legal services to local authorities, national authorities and civil society organizations to fully understand the consequences of public-private partnership negotiations

Draft January Statement and the Final Statement (related data section)