| Issue 25. 07 February 2014 | www.un.org/waterforlifedecade |
| This week in focus | Editor’s note
Welcome to the Decade’s Weekly! Every week it brings you the latest news from the International Decade for Action ’Water for Life’ 2005-2015. Please feel free to forward this newsletter. You can also access this newsletter online. Tip of the week
UN Documentation Centre on Water and Sanitation |
| #Post2015 United Nations General Assembly thematic debate "Water, Sanitation and Sustainable Energy in the post 2015 development agenda"
Date: 18-19 February 2014 This UN General Assembly thematic debate, which will include participation of Member States, observers, UN Agencies and representatives of civil society, private sector, and other relevant stakeholders, intends to identify the main water, sanitation and sustainable energy challenges that hinder achievement of the Millennium Development goals (MDGs) and discuss how to tackle these challenges in an integrated manner in the post-2015 agenda with the overarching goal of poverty eradication. The debate will also address what concrete means (e.g. finance, infrastructure, human capacity, institutional reforms, etc.) governments, their international partners and other stakeholders must undertake to ensure implementation; and how ecosystem approaches, science and technology know‐how, conservation measures and sustainable use can be successfully utilized to increase action at all levels on water, sanitation and sustainable energy. |
| In the news | Forthcoming events |
|
#Post2015
UN-Water presents a synthesis of key findings and recommendations for a post-2015 global goal for water
UN-Water has presented a paper summarizing key findings and recommendations for a post-2015 global goal for water. The paper, which was approved at the UN-Water meeting on 27 January 2014, is the result of a broad technical consultation process among UN-Water members and partners, as well as a range of other stakeholders and aims to inform, provide advice and recommendations in support to Member States in their decision-making process on the post-2015 development agenda. It proposes a set of potential targets and indicators to support a dedicated global goal for water and contributes towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) consultation process.
How would you best illustrate the challenges of water and energy? In preparation for World Water Day 2014 (WWD2014), a photo competition is being held to provide a visual platform for the discussions. Participate and not only win the chance to have your photo displayed during the World Water Day celebrations 20-21 March, Tokyo, Japan, but also help create a visual impact for an issue that affects us all. If you have an eye for an image and want to aid a global issue, get snapping!
A ’hackathon’ is an event in which innovative software and hardware designers approach disaster risk challenges by working on ’hacks’ using open source software applications, or developing new tools, such as rain gauges outfitted with remote sensing devices. Code for Resilience, a collaborative World Bank initiative, is working with local partners and organizing hackathons in cities across Asia, where high population density and rapid urbanization make communities vulnerable to the impact of natural disasters. Get involved and contribute with your project or sign up for local hackathon events! |
#EngageHRW
2nd round of e-discussions on realizing the rights to water and sanitation
Date: 10-24 February 2014
The new e-discussion from the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation in preparation for the Human Rights Handbook starts next week. So far, talks have seen varied contributions and opinions relating to general experiences in supporting access to water and sanitation including some of the main challenges of discrimination in service delivery in realizing the rights to water and sanitation. Weeks 3 and 4 (from 10 to 24 February) will focus on how principles of non-discrimination and equality can be incorporated into legislative, policy and regulative frameworks and financing for water and sanitation. The discussion is open to your input, please share and get involved! Date: 17-20 February 2014 Place: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire Organizers: African Water Association (AfWA)
UN-Water will have a presence at the 17th African Water Association (AfWA) Congress, discussing the topic of "Mobilizing Resources and Governance of Water and Sanitation in Africa". In addition to a booth where information and materials on UN-Water will be provided, the UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development (UNW-DPC) and the Global Water Operators' Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) will organize on 19 February a technical session on "Non-Revenue Water: Strategies for Capacity-Building for Water and Sanitation Utilities".
Date: 24-28 February 2014 The Flow Regime from International Experimental and Network Data (FRIEND)-Water Conference 2014 will focus on the theme "Hydrology in a Changing World: Environmental and Human Dimensions." FRIEND-Water aims to facilitate understanding about how climate, human and river basin factors influence the spatial and temporal distribution of water. The conference will share knowledge on changes in hydrological processes and their impacts and discuss how to develop adaptable water management and water policies to account for these impacts. |
- 10th Symposium of Hydrogeology
The Spanish Association of Hydrogeologists (AEH), which joined the Water for Life Decade’s campaign several months ago, held the 10th Symposium of Hyrdogeology in Granada, Spain from 16 to 18 October 2013. The symposium is a forum in which professionals expose and discuss issues of concern. To this end, the Symposium included a series of presentations and a panel discussion aimed to provide attendees with the newest trends involving water in general and groundwater in particular.
>> Contact