5th World Water Forum – Istanbul 16-22 March 2009

2009/05/22

Shehnaaz Moosa, from the ICLEI Africa Secretariat, was extremely fortunate to attend the 5th World Water Forum in a cold Istanbul from the 16th to the 22nd March 2009. The 5th Forum’s main theme, “bridging divides for water,” was addressed through six framework themes: global change and risk management; advancing human development and the Millennium Development Goals; managing and protecting water resources; governance and management; finance; and education, knowledge and capacity development. The Forum theme was explored through more than 100 thematic sessions, seven regional sessions, and a series of political processes involving local authorities, parliamentarians, ministers and Heads of State. A Water Expo, Water Fair, Children’s Forum, Youth Forum and meetings of various stakeholder groups, including women, were also held. More than 25,000 participants attended, representing governments, UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, academia, business and industry, indigenous groups, youth and the media.

The thematic sessions were run in parallel and Shehnaaz attended THEME 4: GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT. The theme addressed four topics: “implementing the right to water and sanitation through improved access”; “institutional arrangements and regulatory approaches for effective water management”; “ethics, transparency and empowerment of stakeholders”; and “optimizing public and private roles in the provision of urban water services.” Sessions convened for these topics included: making the right to sanitation work; optimizing and improving water services: regulation and transparency as key issues for the water sector; building a corruption-resistant water sector; and opportunities and trends, experience, and policy options for moving towards a vibrant market place.

From right to reality – good government practices for implementing the human right to water and sanitation: Participants from governments, water utilities and authorities, development agencies, and other sectors discussed the role of government in the recognition and implementation of the human right to water. There was a presentation on the UN Independent Expert on Water and Sanitation’s mandate to advance dialogue on the right to water and sanitation. Some argued that legal entitlements are necessary for accessing the benefits of a right to water and sanitation. Panelists presented on access to water and sanitation in informal settlements and slums, addressing in particular affordable water pricing. On pricing, country experiences from Zambia and Kenya were presented, and a proposal for an index to calculate water affordability was discussed. Participants also addressed the drawbacks and benefits of water privatization, public advocacy efforts and transboundary water rights.

As a recommendation for the Forum outcomes, some stressed the need for the Ministerial Declaration to reflect that water is a human right, while others urged the creation of a complementary declaration that expresses the need to recognize the right to water as a minimum requirement. Water right in emergency – be principled or get practical: Panelists considered the legal framework for the right to water and sanitation, describing how this right applies in emergencies and considering how it can be implemented. They discussed the role of international humanitarian law and human rights law in securing the right to water in emergencies, including times of armed conflict and disasters. Panelists offered an overview of a WASH project led by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on the right to water and sanitation in emergencies, and considered challenges for community engagement during times of emergency. They also presented on water access and rights in Haiti and Palestine, citing the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as a useful entry point to discussing the human right to water. Participants highlighted damages to water and sanitation infrastructure during conflict. One panelist said a focus on equitable and reasonable water access, rather than minimum water needs, is necessary to secure adequate water for sustainable development. Participants also discussed the need to: account for water for food production when setting minimum water needs; establish definitions of “emergencies,” especially in the context of recurrent or prolonged emergencies; link emergency responses with longer-term development activities; and recognize the right to water in the Ministerial Declaration.

Several regional processes also took place and Shehnaaz attended the Africa sessions. On Wednesday, Mandla Gantsho, African Development Bank, presented the Africa Regional Paper, underscoring that it is the culmination of a comprehensive consultative process and complements the Africa Water Vision 2025. He said the report builds on existing political commitments and provides guidance in three implementation areas: building infrastructure for basic services; strengthening institutional capacity and operational mechanisms; and refining strategies and policies. He emphasized that it establishes concrete targets, including delivering improved sanitation to 60% of Africa’s population. During an opening high-level panel, Bai-Mass Taal, Africa Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), said the meeting aimed to mobilize broad regional and international support to consolidate existing commitments. Asfow Dingamo, Minister of Water Resources, Ethiopia, noted that the World Water Forum offers an opportunity to announce Africa’s Successes, “not just doom and gloom.” Prince of Orange Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, UNSGAB Chair, noted that there is a growing consensus on key water issues and offered UNSGAB’s support in leveraging ODA funds. Sfara Giorgio, Chair of the G8 Expert Group for Water and Sanitation, announced the G8-Africa Alliance on Water, saying it would build on the lessons learned from the Evian and Toyako G8 Summits. Loїc Fauchon, WWC President, encouraged reinventing Africa’s water institutions based on African experiences and priorities, which should include finding an African “expression” of the right to water. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chair, African Union Commission, welcomed the inclusion of the outcomes of the Sharm el Sheikh African Union Summit in 2008, which endorsed 25 commitments to tackle water security and sanitation goals. Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General, WMO, highlighted the WMO’s hydrological framework to strengthen water management systems in Africa. During the technical panel, speakers underscored the scale of the water and sanitation problem in Africa, noting that US$50 billion annually will be required to meet targets in three key areas: access to drinking water and safe sanitation; water for agriculture; and hydroelectric power and multipurpose storage. They called for investments in knowledge and learning, diversity, proper institutional arrangements and adequate infrastructure. In the closing session, South Africa announced that it would host the 7th session of AMCOW and the 2nd Africa Water Week in November 2009.

The Forum concluded Sunday, 22 March and its main outputs include a Ministerial Declaration and the Istanbul Water Consensus, agreed to by local authorities.