News and Events

Water Awareness Program
ADB National Media Workshop on Water - Kazakhstan

27-30 September 2004
Almaty, Kazakhstan

Post Workshop Statement

Background

In May 2002, ADB launched the Water Awareness Program (WAP) to, among other things, increase public awareness and understanding of water issues. Among WAP's target groups are the journalists who are in a strategic position to provide the public with such knowledge.

In February 2003, ADB collaborated with the World Bank to conduct a capacity building workshop for East Asian journalists. This workshop was designed to further the journalists' understanding of water issues. The results were extensive and informed media coverage on water concerns, and the fostering of a journalist community in the region.

ADB intends to build upon and sustain this success by conducting media workshops on water at the national level. The first of these workshops were conducted in Viet Nam and Thailand in 2003. Three more workshops were held in 2004- two in India (Chennai and New Delhi) and the most recent one in Malaysia.

Feedback from the journalists who attended the workshops has been very positive, including significant media coverage not just on the issues discussed in the workshop, but also on wider water issues.

Objectives

• To increase the understanding of journalists in Kazakhstan toward water issues affecting the country, leading to
1. more informed assessment of the key subjects
2. greater media coverage
3. more diverse collection of writings on water


• To strengthen and increase ADB Water Awareness Program's journalist network, which already totals 150 members

Features

The workshop will feature speakers from civil society and public and private sectors. There will also be opportunities for discussion and debate.

Among the topics to be covered are:

• Water for All - Setting the Scene: A Central Asian Look at Water Issues and Challenges
• Transboundary Water Management in Central Asia
• Water and the Environment in Central Asia
• Water and Agriculture in Central Asia
• Ensuring Clean and Abundant Water for All- Water Supply and Sanitation in Central Asia

Venue

The workshop will be held at the Alatau Health Resort in Almaty.

Program

• Agenda [PDF: 38Kb | 4 pages]

Contact

Paul Fisher
Fax No.: +44 1285 713 071
E-mail : pfisher@timcullen.com