As awareness of the looming water crisis in Asia continues to grow, efforts are under way to find lasting solutions that will bring relief to all, especially poor people, who are the most affected. Water and poverty is a central theme for the region. Water is recognized as a basic need, and integrated water resources management is being promoted through international conferences and dialogues to address problems of access to freshwater and sanitation. Several organizations have embarked on a plan of action in the region to harness knowledge for resolving water problems and to share experiences at the 3rd World Water Forum. The collaborative partnerships and networks in the region are actively involved in addressing a range of issues, including water and poverty, water governance, water in small island countries, water in cities, regional cooperation for shared water resources, flood management, paddy field irrigation in monsoon areas, dams and development, hydropower pricing, and groundwater management.
Also being addressed are such subregional issues as transboundary conflict and security concerns in the Aral Sea area and sustainable development in the Mekong. The outputs of these activities, conducted through numerous regional awareness programs, consultations, workshops, and subregional forums, will be presented in Kyoto. Leading up to the Forum, efforts will also be made to follow up on actions for implementing the Southeast Asia Water Vision and the Asia and Pacific Water Vision presented at the 2nd World Water Forum. Asia takes pride in the fact that the 3rd World Water Forum will be the first to be held in the region and will make every effort to use this opportunity to share the knowledge and experiences of the region with the rest of the world and to win active stakeholder commitment to alleviate poverty in the region. |
