Focus on National Leadership for Inclusive Water Governance: Call for Renewed Water Action and Commitments

The event will focus on national leadership and provide an opportunity for countries/territories like Senegal, South Africa, Germany, Zanzibar, and Zambia which have been visionary in terms of progress in water governance and investments, to showcase their commitments, successes and lessons learned.

The panel discussion will include presentations of the Water Policy Group’s survey for national water leaders (ministers, heads of water agencies, etc), the National Water Roadmaps led by FAO under the UN-Water umbrella, GWP’s work in support of the AIP and interventions by countries globally and regions, OECD’s work on water governance principles, the role of law makers in achieving water security and inclusive approaches in line with human rights perspectives.

Finally, the Global Water Tenure Dialogue led by FAO will be launched during the event. The Dialogue will shape principles on responsible governance of water tenure based on country level engagement, as a commitment to equitable access to water for sustainable livelihoods, food security and climate resilience.

• Follow the event live on UN web TV 23 March 14:00-15:15 EDT.
• Download the concept note here.

Side event draft agenda

Moderation and welcoming remarks. Former President of Republic of Tanzania, HE President Kikwete - 5 minutes

Opening remarks and scene-setting by the host. Government of South Africa: Hon. Senzo Mchunu, Minister of Water and Sanitation, South Africa – 5 minutes

Commitments: National Leadership for Inclusive Water Governance. Call for Renewed Water Action presented by National government speakers – 20 minutes

• High-level representative from Government of Senegal: Hon. Mr Serigne Mbaye THIAM, Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senegal – 5 min
• High-level representative from Government of Germany H.E. Steffi Lemke, Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection – 5 min
• High-Level representative from the Government of Zambia: Hon. Mike Mposha, Minister of water and Sanitation, Zambia – 5 min
• High-Level representative from the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar: Hon. Shaib Hassan Kaduara, Minister for Water, Energy and Minerals – 5 min

Floor contributors – 5 minutes

Panel discussion outlining the support from the international community – 25 minutes

Moderation: Alex Simalabwi, CEO of GWPSA, GWP

• Olcay Ünver, Water Policy Group and Arizona State University – 3 minutes
• Launch of the Global Dialogue on Water tenure: Sasha Koo-Oshima, Deputy Director Land & Water Division, FAO, with Jessica Troell, Environmental Law Institute - 5 minutes
• Aziza Akhmouch, Head of Division Cities, Urban Policies and Sustainable Development, Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, OECD - 3 minutes
• Lesha Witmer, Women for Water Partnership - 3 minutes
• OHCHR representative: ASG for Human Rights; Special Rapporteur on the rights to water and sanitation, Pedro Arrojo-Agudo; or Rio Hada – 3 minutes
• IWMI representative – 3 minutes
• Joint FAO, UNDP, UNICEF intervention as co-coordinators of the UN-Water Task Force on Country Level Engagement on behalf of the Task Force - 5 minutes

Floor contributors – 5 minutes

Q&A – 5 minutes

Call for Action and Closing - Hon. Senzo Mchunu, Minister of Water and Sanitation, South Africa - 5 minutes