|
"Water For Peace" is a broad theme. While some may focus on equitable utilization of water among nations, water conflicts in terms of inputs to economic activities, or access to water for drinking purposes, "water for peace" should be about much more. It should be about (a) post-conflict reconstruction, (b) sharing of benefits among nations and regional economic integration among basin nations instead of polarized claims for water, (c) balancing uses of water resources and land resources in basins among competing uses in a transparent, participative fashion, (d) focusing on poverty reduction not just for drinking water, not for wasteful irrigation but for providing a safety net for the poor to have access to water ecosystems for their livelihoods, protein, and drinking purposes, and (e) not forgetting about downstream coastal ecosystems that the poor depend on when upstream freshwater conflicts are not addressed. GEF has 10 years experience in funding projects related to transboundary waters addressing these issues. 127 countries are collaborating on their shared water systems in 74 approved projects totaling $1.5 billion with $563 million in GEF grants. Five representative projects will discuss their experiences in this area for the benefit of participants. Hopefully, a message on a better sense of sustainable utilization of water ecosystems toward poverty reduction and processes/best practices for doing so toward meeting WSSD Outcomes will be evident to participants. Unique modalities through GEF partners in the UN system, World Bank, and Regional Development Banks/GEF Executing Agencies will be presented based on actual experiences. The French FFEM will also propose new approaches for integrated approaches.
|
 |
|
[Agenda] Chair: Andrea Merla, Program Manager, GEF Secretariat
- Welcome/Opening Remarks. Alfred M. Duda, Senior Advisor, GEF Secretariat
- Nile Basin Initiative and GEF. Meraji Msuya, Executive Director, Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat
- Sao Francisco Basin Project. Jerson Kelman, President Brazil National Water Agency
- GEF Guarani Aquifer Basin Project. Luiz Amore, Project Manager, Brazil National Water Agency
- Integrated Coastal Management: GEF PEMSEA Project. Huming Yu, Senior Officer, PEMSEA
- Danube/Black Sea Basin Strategic Partnership and GEF/World Bank Investment Fund. Piotr Krzyanowski,
Senior Specialist, World Bank
- A New Approach to Integrate Freshwater and Coastal Management-FFEM. Christophe Du Castel. Secretary FFEM
- Discussion/Open Forum
|
|
