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Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation Workshop on Water and Poverty
Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh:
22-26 September, 2002

Post Workshop Statement

Purpose

The Water and Poverty Initiative is a multi-organization initiative that is coordinated by ADB.

The Regional Consultation Workshop on Water and Poverty is part of the WPI consultation process to prepare for the 3rd World Water Forum (WWF) to be held in Kyoto, Japan, in March 2003. The WWF will serve to share information and highlight innovative practices in the water sector. It will focus on actions taken around the world to increase water security in the 21st century. Water security implies that all people, including the world's poor,

• have access to water services to meet their basic needs
• are able to take advantage of the opportunities that water resources provide
• are protected from water-related hazards
• have recourse where conflicts over water arise.

The needs of the world's poorest people and poorest nations are seen as the highest priority for the international community. Water and Poverty will be a core theme at the Forum.

Objectives

The Workshop will provide key opportunity to bring together different stakeholders to consult on the issues of poverty and water security for the region. It will also build better mutual understanding of poverty-water links and will offer a dynamic and interactive process designed to

• highlight good practices on water resource management in the Asia and Pacific region
• promote further action at the local level to ensure the attainment of water security, especially for the poor
• strengthen the regional network of development agencies working on the various issues of water and its link to poverty reduction

Workshop Inputs and Processes

Workshop inputs will include case studies on innovative practices and thematic papers. The process will involve

• keynote presentations
• dialogues with community representatives
• working group sessions
• field visits to a pro-poor water projects

Expected Outputs

The outputs of the workshop will highlight the contributions of water management in the reduction of poverty and attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

Organizers

The Workshop is organized jointly by ADB, the Bangladesh Ministry of Water Resources, the Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO) -- the water sector planning body of the government of Bangladesh, BRAC -- a leading poverty-focused NGO in Bangladesh, and the Secretariat of the WWF. A large group of collaborating organizations is supporting the workshop, including the following:

• African Development Bank
• Gender and Water Alliance
• Global Water Partnership
• Inter-American Development Bank
• International Union for the Conservation of Nature
• International Water Management Institute
• Japan Bank for International Cooperation
• Japan International Cooperation Agency
• Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Royal Danish Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Royal Netherlands Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh
• UNICEF
• WaterAid
• Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council

Target Participants

Participation is by invitation. Approximately 250 participants from across the Asia-Pacific region are expected to attend the workshop. This includes

• country representatives from the government and civil society
• experts and case study presenters from the water, poverty reduction and related sectors
• representatives from development institutions

Equal representation with emphasis on gender balance is expected.

Contacts

Wouter Lincklaen Arriens
Lead Water Resources Specialist and Theme Leader for Water and Poverty Initiative
Email: wlincklaenarriens@adb.org

John Soussan
Lead Consultant for the Water and Poverty Initiative, ADB
Email: johnsoussan@hotmail.com

Ma. Christina Duenas
Policy Specialist / Water Website Coordinator
Email: cduenas@adb.org

Organizing Committee
Web site: http://www.warpo.org/waterandpoverty