As in former World Water Fora, UNESCO-IHE was actively involved in the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul at different levels. The delegation returned quite pleased with the results. Participants took part in lively discussions under various sessions.

Advocacy and Promotional Activities

UNESCO-IHE was also quite active in advocacy and promotional activities in the Forum, including hosting the joint UNESCO stand, which was very well-visited by water professionals, scholars, students, media professionals, and more. We managed to arrange several interviews and other media events, and organised a UNESCO-IHE Alumni Gathering and Partnership Meeting & Social Gathering.

Recommendations

Click on the pages below to see recommendations and outputs for each session, download session papers and see photos of various happenings.

Education, Knowledge and Capacity Development Strategies - Topic 6.1

Strengthening the Capacities of Local Organisations and People - Session 6.1.3

The Institute's input into various other sessions

UNESCO-IHE's activities in and around the stand

UNESCO-IHE's other Forum activities

Background on the 5th World Water Forum

The World Water Forum, the world’s largest water-related event, is organised every three years as a joint venture between the World Water Council and the government of the host country. The World Water Forum aims to raise the importance, awareness and understanding of water issues and propose concrete solutions to address global challenges.

The 5th World Water Forum’s overarching theme, Bridging Divides for Water, has been conceived to underline the geographical crossroads between Europe and Asia, the Middle East and Africa, North and South, represented by Istanbul, but also the barriers between modern-age and traditional water cultures and uses, between rich and poor, and between developed and developing regions of the world.

It emphasises the need for greater interaction, communication and functional harmonisation of the various entities involved in or affected by water management. It sends out a message to the water community that water is not an end in itself, but rather a means for our development and well-being.

Interaction with other sectors is therefore needed to understand how water can contribute to the solution of common problems faced by all affected sectors.

Proceed to the 5th World Water Forum website.