The 10th World Water Forum (WWF) in Bali is an important momentum for Indonesia in particular and the world in general in continuing to improve water governance. The theme of the 10th WWF, namely Water Shared for Prosperity, shows the global world’s serious attention in managing water issues for the benefit of the future of water for shared prosperity. Indonesia as the host also has a role in offering a number of strategic collaborations.
The 2024 World Water Forum opened with a series of Welcoming Gala Dinner events for the 10th WWF delegates, following the Segara Kerthi Ceremony on May 18 2024. Delegates could enjoy various typical Indonesian dishes. It is presented with a stall concept and participants can also buy typical Indonesian souvenirs to take home. The Welcoming Gala Dinner will be held at GWK Cultural Park on May 19 2024.
Water is an important issue that influences the quality of life of living creatures now and in the future, so its availability must be ensured continuously as the key to the welfare and sustainability of the earth. For Indonesia in particular, as the largest archipelagic country in the world, of course the issue of water management has its own challenges in water management, ranging from protecting natural resources to dealing with water-related natural disasters.
Secretary General of the Ministry of PUPR Mohammad Zainal Fatah revealed that Indonesia is offering a number of strategic projects worth 9.6 billion US dollars or Rp. 154 trillion. Several of these projects were selected by the Ministry of National Planning and Development (PPN)/National Planning and Development Agency (Bappenas).
A total of 244 sessions in the WWF forum are expected to provide concrete results regarding the mainstreaming of integrated water management for small islands or Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) on Small Islands , the establishment of a center of excellence or best practices for water and climate security or the Center of Excellence on Water and Climate Resilience (COE) , as well as the establishment of World Lakes Day.
In this context, it becomes clear that Indonesia’s strategic role in the World Water Forum is not only as a host, but also as an active learner and leader in global initiatives in maintaining water sustainability for shared prosperity.
Indonesia’s strategic role also includes efforts to expand access to clean water and sanitation for all levels of society. With a growing population and rapid urbanization, this challenge is becoming increasingly urgent, and Indonesia has demonstrated commitment and concrete steps to address inequality in access to clean water and sanitation through sustainable policies and programs.
Thus, the 10th World Water Forum in Bali is not only a discussion forum, but also a momentum for Indonesia to emphasize its strategic role in promoting water for shared prosperity. Through cross-sector collaboration, increasing access to clean water, and global advocacy, Indonesia continues to be committed to being a leader in protecting water resources which are very important for sustainability and shared prosperity in the world.
More specifically, this role can be seen from various policies in water resources management. Through sustainable policies and regulations, the Indonesian government has created a framework that enables efficient and sustainable water management. This includes regulating water use permits, monitoring water pollution, and protecting water ecosystems.
As a form of collaboration, the Indonesian government has collaborated with the private sector in developing water infrastructure, such as building clean water sources, waste water treatment plants, and investing in technology that optimizes water use.
In line with this, Expert Staff to the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Firdaus Ali said that several important agreements, such as bilateral and multilateral cooperation, were worth trillions of rupiah. Indonesia as the host is not only determined to make the 10th WWF a success, but also encourages outputs and outcomes to be executed by countries in the world at the project level and real action in the field. According to him, WWF is not just a ceremonial activity, but rather a meeting that discusses realities on the ground so concrete steps are needed.
In international cooperation forums, the Indonesian government continues to develop partnerships with international organizations such as the UN, World Bank, and others to ensure technical support, financial resources, and access to best practices in water management.
In an effort to collaborate with civil society in continuing to develop civil society participation to improve water governance, the Indonesian government continues to ensure that the interests and needs of the community are considered in decision making regarding water.
Non-governmental organizations, NGOs, and environmental advocacy groups play a role in educating communities about the importance of sustainable water management, as well as mobilizing support for local initiatives in the protection of water resources.
Besides various other threats that require collaboration from stakeholders to find solutions, starting from over-exploitation, pollution, and changes in rainfall patterns due to climate change. These various phenomena have an impact on the availability of clean water as well as triggering natural disasters such as droughts, floods and landslides.
What is more important through this forum is that it can produce a global commitment to collaborate to protect water as a source of life for the welfare of nature and the preservation of the earth, followed by concrete steps to create a brighter future for future generations.