The World Water Forum is one of the largest water-related gathering and conference that is jointly organized by the World Water Council and a co-host city that takes place every three years.
Aim World Water Forum aims to:
Raise awareness with decision makers and the public at large on water issues and, subsequently, to generate action; Contribute to improving access to water supply and sanitation and report on progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals; Provide opportunities to progressively develop shared visions on challenging water issues, to develop new partnerships and to pave the way for cooperation and action among a wide diversity of organisations and individuals; Encourage greater media attention for water issues and solutions
Locations
Components The forum is made up of four primary components:
The thematic programme which provides the substantive discussions in the form of sessions and panels. The political process which provides the opportunity for discussion with elected officials (local authorities, parliamentarians, ministers) and resulting in various statements and commitments. The regional process which provides perspectives on water from all regions of the world. The fair and expo which provides a space for all stakeholders to showcase their contributions. Each of these components benefits from extensive preparatory processes that commence two years prior to the World Water Forum. Past editions have included other features, such as side events, a learning centre, a children's forum, a youth forum, a children's education village, water and film encounters and cultural entertainment.
World Water Council
The World Water Council (WWC), also known as the Conseil Mondial de l'Eau (CME), is an international think tank. It was founded in 1996, with its headquarters in Marseille, France. It has 358 members (as of February 2020) which encompass organizations from the UN and intergovernmental organizations, the private sector (construction, engineering and manufacturing companies), governments and ministries, academic institutions, international organizations, local governments and civil society groups. Founders and constituent members of the World Water Council are the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the International Water Association (IWA), AquaFed (The International Federation of Private Water Operators), Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux, the United Nations agencies UNDP and UNESCO, as well as the World Bank. Its stated mission is "to promote awareness, build political commitment and trigger action on critical water issues at all levels, including the highest decision-making level, to facilitate the efficient conservation, protection, development, planning, management, and use of water in all its dimensions on an environmentally sustainable basis for the benefit of all life on earth." Every third year the World Water Council organizes the World Water Forum in close collaboration with the authorities of the hosting country. The Forum is the largest international event in the field of water. The 6th World Water Forum took place in Marseille, France, in 2012 and the 7th World Water Forum in Daegu-Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea, in April 2015. The 8th World Water Forum took place in Brasilia, Brazil, from 18 to 23 March 2018 under the overarching theme 'Sharing Water'. The 9th World Water Forum was held in Dakar, Senegal, in March 2021, while the 10th World Water Forum has been organized in Bali, Indonesia during May 2024. Saudi Arabia was handed over the flag of World Water Forum on 24 May 2024 at the closing ceremony of 10th World Water Forum in Bali. Saudi Arabia will be hosting the 11th World Water Forum in 2027. The World Water Council is financed primarily through membership fees, and additional support is provided by the host City of Marseille. Specific projects and programs are financed through donations and grants from governments, international organizations, and NGOs.
Colleges and membership distribution As of February 2020, the World Water Council members are divided into 5 colleges:
College 1: Intergovernmental organizations – 4% College 2: Governments and government promoted organizations – 22% College 3: Commercial organizations – 22% College 4: Civil society organizations – 22% College 5: Professional and academic organizations – 31%
Criticism Critics pin on the World Water Council for promotion of privatisation of water supply, an indication of which is a great influence of financial institutions and global water corporations. The Canadian activist Tony Clarke describes the World Water Council as a smoke screen for the water lobby. Medha Patkar, an activist from India, gave a passionate speech against privatization of water at the 2nd World Water Forum in The Hague in 2000.[1]
History
1st World Water Forum: Morocco The first World Water Forum, following the creation of the World Water Council, took place in Marrakesh, Morocco, on 21–23 March 1997. It laid the basis for the development of a long-term "Vision for Water, Life and the Environment in the 21st Century." Sessions included:
Perspectives on world water On the road toward a long-term vision for world water The challenges of the 21st century Celebration of World Water Day
2nd World Water Forum: Netherlands The 2nd World Water Forum in The Hague from 17 to 22 March 2000 generated much debate on the World Water Vision and the associated Framework for Action, dealing with the state and ownership of water resources, their development potential, management and financing models, and their impact on poverty, social, cultural and economic development and the environment. The ministerial declaration identified the following key challenges: meeting basic water needs, securing food supply, protecting ecosystems, sharing water resources, managing risks, valuing water and governing water wisely.
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