During the kick-off meeting ofthe 3rd World Water Forum in Kyoto in June 2001, several organizations met to discuss ways to facilitate a dialogue between donor agencies and ministers. The Water Development Partners Panel was conceived of as a unique opportunity to bring together the heads of financial institutions and government ministers responsible for development and for water resources. The panel will address solutions to critical water issues at country and regional levels and spur the necessary political commitment. The panel will share information to reinforce a commitment to appropriate actions by the donor community and other stakeholders, including NGOs, unions, scientists, farmers, local governments, and private businesses, and to encourage partnerships that can lead to further action. Tangible results and partnerships, rather than new financial pledges, are the goals.
Water and Poverty was selected as the key thematic focus of the session. The session will be structured to integrate as many perspectives from the Forum as possible into the dialogue and to cover issues related to the efficiency and reliability of water services and access to capital to make them a reality. Topics to be discussed include water availability for production and income generation; water, sanitation, and hygiene for health; sustainable environmental management; and vulnerability to water-related disasters. The panel session will be organized around key actions such as pro-poor water governance, improved access to good quality water services, pro-poor economic growth and livelihood improvement, community capacity building and empowerment, disaster prevention and mitigation, and environmental management.
The Panel will meet on the afternoon before the Ministerial Conference for a dialogue with Forum stakeholders on conclusions of the discussions on Water and Poverty and for Panel members to respond to the challenges raised in the Forum. |
