Water experts to develop key-action plan to shape the future

The Delft-based UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education is organizing a three-day Symposium from 13 – 15 June entitled: “Water for a Changing World: Enhancing Local Knowledge and Capacity” on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. More than 300 representatives from Ministries, International development banks, UN and sector organizations and water corporations will participate. Among the participants will be some of the 14.000 alumni of the institute, including several Ministers and CEO’s.

The symposium addresses one of the most critical issues to reach the so-called Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): the lack of professional and institutional capacity. The MDGs provide a framework to fight against poverty, where safe water and sanitation play a fundamental role. Many regions will meet the targets, some others are falling short (Asia progressed well in the last decade, but in sub-Saharan Africa, 42% of the population still lacks access to safe drinking water. Regarding sanitation, close to 2.4 billion people worldwide will still be without improved services by 2015). The availability of qualified professionals and effective institutions arise as a key element not only to reach the objectives, but also to maintaining the viability of investments made in the sector. The goal of the symposium is to come up with a ‘road map’ defining the critical actions needed to enhance this capacity where it matters the most: at the local level.

HRH Prince Willem Alexander of Orange, Chairman of the UN Secretary-General Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation and Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, will be present at the Symposium. The event will be opened by Ms. J.C. Huizinga-Heringa, Secretary of State, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, The Netherlands. Mr. Djoko Kirmanto, Minister of Public Works of Indonesia, Hon. Maria Mutagamba, Minister of State for Water of Uganda and Chair of the African Ministers' Council on Water, Mr. Kyul Ho Kwak, President of K-water, Former Minister of the Environment, South Korea, Mr. Jacques Labre, Vice-President of SUEZ, Dr. Loïc Fauchon, President of the World Water Council and Prof. Lidia Brito, Former Minister of Science and Technology of Mozambique will be among the key-note speakers.