Water

Asia-Pacific Water Forum
About APWF

The Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) is a new network that identifies and adopts solutions to water issues in the region. Background Objectives Governance Contacts

More About APWF Main Page About APWF Priority Themes and Key Result Areas ADB's Commitment Joining APWF APWF in Motion

Over the years, it became clear that several water-related challenges are common across the Asia-Pacific region. Too, key stakeholders realized that the region’s diversity is not really a barrier but an asset to the identification and adoption of solutions to specific water issues.

At the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico in March 2006, water ministers from the Asia-Pacific sought the establishment of a new network that will work in unity to address water challenges in the region. Several development agencies supported the proposal and the Asia Pacific Water Forum (APWF) was conceived and officially launched at the Conference on ADB's Water Financing Program in September 2006.

APWF is designed to be an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, and non-political network. It will work to increase the region’s access to improved water supplies and sanitation, protect and restore river basins, and reduce people’s vulnerability to water disasters. Its initial task is to organize an Asia-Pacific Water Summit in 2007.

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APWF’s goal is to contribute to sustainable water management for achieving the Millennium Development Goals Water Targets in the Asia-Pacific. Specifically, the APWF shall champion efforts aimed at boosting investments, building capacity, and enhancing cooperation in the region’s water sector.

To achieve this goal, APWF’s objectives are to:

• Provide countries and organizations in the Asia-Pacific region with a common platform for articulating the region’s strategies and promoting its achievements in solving water problems 
• Showcase leadership in decision-making, excellence in practice and innovation, and concrete results that have had a substantial impact at the grassroots level

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The governance structure for APWF is highly participatory, with major decisions arising from a consensus.

The APWF governing structure is as follows:

	President Provides strategic direction to the network. Mr. Yoshiro Mori, President of the Japan Water Forum and former Prime Minister of Japan, serves as APWF President.
	Governing Council The Council, composed of a Chair and two Vice-Chairs, oversees the workplan of the APWF, makes strategic decisions, and selects lead organizations for each priority theme and KRA. The Governing Council consists of Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large of Singapore, Erna Witoelar, UN Special Ambassador for the Millennium Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific, and Ravi Narayanan, former Chief Executive of WaterAid.
	Secretariat The Japan Water Forum (JWF) serves as Secretariat and is responsible for executing the APWF workplan, managing the website and database, coordinating network services, and convening the meetings of the Governing Council.
	Sub-regional Coordinators These are the organizations that represented the different subregions of Asia-Pacific during the planning of the 4th World Water Forum and creation of the APWF in 2006.   • Central Asia: Global Water Partnership for Caucasus and Central Asia (GWP-CACENA), Executive Committee of International fund for the Aral Saving (EC IFAS)   • Northeast Asia: Korea Water Forum   • South Asia: GWP South Asia   • Southeast Asia: GWP Southeast Asia   • Pacific: Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) They link various activities undertaken on the KRAs or priority themes with stakeholders in their subregion.
	Lead Organizations There are two types of Lead Organizations involved in the APWF: those leading activities under the five KRAs and those guiding progress under the three priority themes. These organizations operate on a voluntary basis, are able to commit their resources to the pursuit of the APWF agenda, and are able to build linkages among stakeholders. ADB serves as lead organization for the Water Financing priority theme and the KRA on increasing public outreach. See the list of lead organizations per Theme and KRA.
	Member Organizations These organizations mobilize and commit resources to implement specific tasks under the guidance of the Lead Organizations. There are five categories in the APWF membership:         • national, regional, and provincial agencies in charge of water provision and policy development or management   • institutions and universities contributing knowledge to address water issues   • civil society organizations and communities responsible for water provision and advocacy   • private companies or corporations contributing to water reforms, including through corporate social responsibility activities   • media institutions supporting the objectives of the APWF

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K.E. Seetharam
Principal Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist, ADB
E-mail: water@adb.org

Narciso Prudente
APWF Researcher, ADB
E-mail: nprudente@adb.org