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2nd Southeast Asia Water Forum
Better Water Management Through Public Participation

Southeast Asia (SEA) is one of the water-rich regions in the world. It is also one of the most populated, with about 522 million in 2002 and growing at an annual rate of 2.1%. Nearly 33% of the population lives in urban areas; this is expected to increase further by about 3% annually.

SEA has an average annual water resource of about 6,476 km³, representing 15% of the world's total. More than 90% of total freshwater withdrawals go to agriculture; the remaining 10% go to household and industrial uses.

Given the importance of water resources in the region, it is important to address water management issues at various levels. Among such issues are the escalating demands on water resources brought about by rapid urbanization and industrialization, and the resulting water stress (indicated by reduced water quantity, low water quality, low reliability of supply, high cost of water and more.)

In November 2003, the First Southeast Asia Water (SEAWF) Forum was conducted to define specific recommendations to address the water issues in the region. Among the many recommendations derived were the following:

• Ensure participation of all stakeholders in water resources management and development.
• Promote regional cooperation, e.g. by developing legal and policy frameworks conducive to collaboration, encouraging government, NGO and private sector cooperation in mitigating the negative effects of floods and droughts, etc.
• Build and strengthen capacity to implement integrated water resources management (IWRM).
• Organize biannual regional water forum to educate and exchange information among water resources managers and other stakeholders.

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The 2nd SEAWF aimed to build a regional commitment toward IWRM and effective water governance among key stakeholders. Towards these, the forum:

• showcased various experiences and success stories on water management at various levels, ie. Basin, Country, Region)
• defined, validated and formulated actions plans to implement IWRM in SEA
• formulated strategies and plans for improving urban and rural water supplies in SEA
• promoted collaboration and partnership among key water stakeholders.

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The forum focused on three main themes with several sessions organized under each theme.

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At the end of the Forum, participants crafted the following:

• Forum Declaration [PDF | 16KB 3PAGES]
• Forum Call for Action [PDF | 27KB 6PAGES]
• Bali Ministerial Declaration on Water Resources Management in Southeast Asia [PDF | 42KB 4PAGES]
• Plan of Action on Water Resources Management in Southeast Asia [PDF | 42KB 10PAGES]

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ADB convened the following sessions at the forum:

	Session 1 Leading national water reforms and water governance Focused on how public participation can improve water reforms and governance; and how water reforms can lead to better water management and higher investments in the sector.
	Session 2 Improving the water security of the poor through the Millennium Development Goals Focused on the region's progress towards attaining MDGs, both in rural and urban areas, and the need for integrated approaches that increase stakeholders' choices and improve governance conditions.
	Session 3 Building credible and independent water regulators Focused on essential elements of good regulation, experiences in setting up pro-poor regulatory systems in the region's water supply sector, and making such systems sustainable.
	Session 4 Catching Up, Keeping Up With Growing Cities Focused on how governments of growing cities are addressing their problems on water and sanitation, and what viable options are available to generate financing for these much needed services.

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ADB staff gave the following speeches and presentations at different sessions in the Forum:

To view the other presentation made in the ADB sessions, visit ADB Sessions 1, 2, 3, and 4.

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The forum was organized by the Global Water Partnership- Southeast Asia, the Directorate General of Water Resources, Ministry of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure, and Indonesia Water Partnership.

Various agencies, including ADB, supported the forum in terms of organizing the various sessions under the three main themes.

A Secretariat Committee composed of various Indonesian agencies involved in the water sector was organized to oversee the preparations for the event.

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The forum was held at the Bali International Convention Center. Contact details are as follows:

P.O. Box 36, Nusa Dua 80363 Bali, Indonesia
Tel : (62 361) 771906
Fax. (62 361) 772 047
E-mail : sari.pambayun@westin.com

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Forum participants were asked to pay a registration fee of $200.00. This covered meals, conference materials and meeting expenses. An additional fee of $30.00 - $40.00 was charged to cover expenses related to technical/ study visits, i.e. transportation and meals.

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• Second Southeast Asian Water Forum

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For further inquiries on Forum logistics, contact the following: