The 6th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, held in 1998, called for creation of a World Water Development Report. At the 2nd World Water Forum, the Director-General of UNESCO announced the launch of the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), including the World Water Development Report, whose first edition will be released at the 3rd World Water Forum. Since then, WWAP has developed a UN systemwide program under the aegis of the Subcommittee on Water Resources of the UN Administrative Committee on Coordination.
WWAP is focusing on developing indicators using new methodologies; assessing the water situation as it affects economic, social, and environmental development; identifying actions to be taken at local to global levels; presenting guidelines for improving water policy and management; and helping to build capacity to make effective in-country assessments. The World Water Development Report is monitoring progress against targets in such fields as health, food, ecosystems, industry, energy, risk management, water valuation, resource sharing, knowledge base construction, and cities and governance. The findings will be illustrated through case studies of experience in the following river basins and regions: Chao Phraya (Thailand), Tokyo (Japan), Lake Peipsi (Estonia, Russia), Rhuhunu (Sri Lanka), Seine-Normandy (France), Senegal (Senegal, Mali, Mauritania), and Lake Titicaca (Bolivia, Peru). By harnessing the efforts of many actors and national partners, WWAP expects to facilitate the exchange and harmonization of water-related data to assist policy-makers and resource managers in making better decisions.
WWAP sessions at the Forum will present the first edition of World Water Development Report and the future development of WWAP. These sessions and a multimedia exhibition will be featured as main events on World Water Day (March 22) in celebration of the UN International Year of Freshwater (2003). Participation of prominent figures, including UN executive heads, is expected. |
