Final report of the 1st International Conference
of the Global Water Operators’ Partnership Alliance:
Raising Awareness and Communicating the Urgency to Act

The final report of the 1st International Conference of the Global Water Operator’s Partnership Alliance, which was held in Zaragoza, Spain, from 3 to 4 December 2009, is now available online. The report summarizes the work of the conference, the main topics of the discussions and concerns from participants, and presents its main conclusions.

>> Access the final report of the conference [PDF - 33.6 MB]

Public consultation on the annotated table of contents of the fourth edition of the UN World Water Development Report

The primary goal of the ‘Water for Life’ Decade is to promote efforts to fulfil international commitments made on water and water-related issues by 2015. The United Nations World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) monitors freshwater issues in order to provide recommendations, develop case studies, enhance assessment capacity at a national level and inform the decision-making process. Its primary product, the World Water Development Report (WWDR), is a periodic, comprehensive review providing an authoritative picture of the state of the world’s freshwater resources.

As a global report which aims to inform us all, WWAP hopes to receive your comments and contributions throughout the development of the Report. You can share your comments through the public consultation for the annotated table of contents of the WWDR4..

>> Access the public consultation

Subscribe to the “Water Smart” Campaign and
help raise awareness on the urgency to act!

The United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’ 2005-2015, which implements the UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication, launches a communication campaign particularly addressed to water and sanitation operators. With the “Water Smart” campaign, the Water for Life Decade would like to involve water and sanitation operators in raising awareness on the urgency to act on specific water issues through various campaign elements. If your company would like to participate, please return the registration form duly signed to the mailing address indicated in the form..

>> More information about the Water Smart Campaign

>> Registration form

11 December 2009: Aragon and climate change: “Actúa con energía”. Zaragoza, Spain

The project “Actúa con energía”, promoted by the Government of Aragon, Spain, organizes its 6th conference putting a special focus on communication and climate change. This environmental education project links energy consumption habits, techniques and methods with its environmental consequences. Helena Caballero, adviser on water and environment of the United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’ 2005-2015/UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication, participates in the event with a presentation on “International media coverage of climate change”. The event takes place at the Salón de Actos del Edificio CREA, 20 Avda. Ranillas.

>> More information at the “Actúa con Energía” website

9-10 December 2009: Economic instruments to support water policy in Europe. Paris, France

The Office national de l’eau et des milieux aquatiques (ONEMA) of France organises the workshop “Economic instruments to support water policy in Europe: Paving the way for research and future development”. The workshop will provide an opportunity for economists, practitioners, policy makers and researchers to dialogue on the potential for economic instruments in the field of water. Josefina Maestu, coordinator of the United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’ 2005-2015/UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication, participates in the workshop with a presentation on the role of economic instruments in river basin management plans.

>> More information at the ONEMA website

1st International Conference of the Global Water Operators’ Partnership Alliance: Raising Awareness and Communicating the Urgency to Act
3-4 December 2009. Zaragoza, Spain

Sustainable, efficient and equitable management of water resources has never been as important as in today’s world. More than ever, it is the world’s water and wastewater utilities that are central to achieving global goals of environmental protection and universal access to water and sanitation services.

As the providers of drinking water for the majority of the world’s population, water operators have great power to communicate, show by example, and inspire their customers about the urgent need to act in solidarity towards common environmental and development goals. Increasingly, water operators’ are engaging in awareness campaigns, international development, corporate social responsibility efforts, and sharing their skills through water operators’ partnerships.

This role of water operators as leaders in the efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals and other international commitments on water and sanitation was the focus of this 2-day meeting. The meeting focused on communication strategies and water operators’ partnerships as the essential tools of water operators in playing their full role in this urgent global effort.

>> Presentations from speakers

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