World Water Week: Eye on Asia
18 August 2009; Stockholm, Sweden
Background | Objectives | ADB’s Participation |
Organizers
Several hundred million people in the Asia-Pacific region suffer from unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, polluted river systems, flood disasters and more. But the region is responding by developing new initiatives that meet the needs of local communities, cities and river basins.
Since 1991, the annual World Water Week*, hosted and organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), has been providing a unique forum for the exchange of views and experiences between the scientific, business, policy, and civic communities. It focuses on new thinking and positive action toward water-related challenges and their impact on the world’s environment, health, economic and poverty reduction agendas.
In the 2008 World Water Week, ADB and its partners organized “Asia Day”—the first time that the region’s water sector was given special focus. Asia Day promoted a better understanding of the water and sanitation issues in the region and the efforts of governments and development agencies to address these issues.
This year, ADB and partner organizations are organizing “Eye on Asia,” a day-long series of activities that will highlight lessons from the Asia-Pacific experience.
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Eye on Asia aims to share knowledge on recent developments in the Asia-Pacific’s water and sanitation sector. It will showcase reforms and innovations that reveal new or improved solutions to longstanding issues, and identify remaining challenges in the region.
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ADB’s Eye on Asia includes 2 seminars and a side event:
| Date and Time |
Event |
ADB Delegate |
| 18 August, AM |
Seminar: Accessing Urban Water Supplies and Improving Sanitation
Asia’s urban centers continue to endure sub-optimal water and sanitation services. The session will show that while Asian water utilities face numerous challenges, smart solutions are being tried. Among these, small-scale water providers are beginning to serve Asia’s urban poor. On sanitation, studies show that investing now pays off and doing nothing costs more eventually. Experience from the region will show that sanitation can be a viable business. |
Rudolf Frauendorfer |
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| 18 August, PM |
Seminar: Advances in River Basin Management
The session will illustrate successes in securing and improving access to water resources in Asian river basins. Consolidated case studies of basin management institutions will be presented and a panel of specialists involved in these developments will lead the discussion. |
Ian Makin |
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| 18 August, 12:45-13:45 |
Side Event: Facing Up to Climate Change Impacts and Costs
Recent impact assessments indicate that Asia's developing countries will experience a disproportionately large share of the impacts of global climate change. The session will continue the debate begun at Asia Water Day 2008 regarding key policy concerns and the issue of who should pay. |
Chris Morris |
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The Eye on Asia seminars are being organized by ADB and the following partners:
- International Water Association (IWA)
- National Water and Sanitation Association of the Philippines (NAWASA)
- Network for Asian River Basin Organizations (NARBO)
- Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF)
- Global Water Partnership (GWP)
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| Contacts |
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Ian Makin
Senior Water Resources Management Specialist, ADB
Email: imakin@adb.org
Mai Flor
Water Governance Specialist, ADB
Email: mflor@adb.org
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