By. Ryan Santoso )*
The 10th World Water Forum (WWF) event will be held in Nusa Dua, Bali, on 18-25 May 2024. This forum is the right forum to discuss finding solutions in global water management. All eyes will be focused on Bali because it is a very important meeting place in thinking about and finding the best solutions for the benefit of the international community.
Secretary General of the Ministry of PUPR, Mohammad Zainal Fatah, assessed that this forum is an opportunity for countries to share experiences, innovations and solutions in managing and maintaining water resources, especially the impact of climate change which is increasingly evident.
As the host of the 10th WWF, Indonesia has an important role in providing a global platform for stakeholders to discuss various issues related to water management.
The 10th WWF with the theme “Water for Shared Prosperity” is expected to be a momentum for Indonesia to show its leadership and commitment in global efforts to overcome water management challenges.
For your information, the 10th WWF consists of three main processes, namely the Political Process, Regional Process, and Thematic Process which involves all relevant stakeholders. The Thematic Process consists of six sub-themes which will later be discussed together to find common goals globally.
There are six sub-themes including Water Security and Prosperity, Water for Humans and Nature, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Governance, Cooperation and Hydro-diplomacy, Sustainable Water Finance , and Knowledge and Innovation. Meanwhile, regional processes include Asia Pacific, America, Africa and the Mediterranean. The political process consists of 5 levels, namely Head of States, Parliamentarian, Ministerial , Local Authorities and Basin Authorities.
Each country has its own water management problems and focuses, so a comprehensive regional approach needs to be taken. For the political process, water management policies will be discussed in stages starting from the implementer to the Head of State. With the WWF forum, it is hoped that a stronger global commitment will be created in overcoming the challenges of water resources management. Apart from that, it also encourages more effective and sustainable action, and strengthens international cooperation.
On the other hand, through this forum, Indonesia also wants to raise four deliverable outcomes that will become legacies , namely the establishment of the Center of Excellence on Water and Climate Resilience (COE) , and the mainstreaming of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) on Small Islands .
Apart from that, World Lake Day (WLD) will also be established and included in the Ministerial Declaration Compendium of Concrete Deliverables and Actions , in the form of a list of activities as a concrete follow-up to the 10th World Water Forum.
Taking the theme ” Water For Shared Prosperity “, the following is the meaning of the World Water Forum;
1. The Importance of Water; Even though it seems ordinary, water is a very important element for the survival of humans and every other living creature on earth. Therefore, water availability is a crucial aspect in human life.
2. Water related challenges; Currently we face various complex challenges related to water, including in terms of availability, quantity, distribution and quality. Climate change and environmental damage are several factors that contribute to this.
4. Water Must Be Managed; Without good management, the decline in sustainable water availability can result in many aspects that reduce the quality of life. This will ultimately thwart the prosperity that everyone dreams of.
5. Shared Welfare; The 10th World Water Forum will be a platform for finding solutions for proper water management so that the resource is available to everyone when needed and is able to bring shared prosperity.
This momentum is very important for Indonesia to show the world its commitment and real contribution in the field of water resources. Through the largest international water forum in the world, Indonesia can become a role model for other countries because of its success in managing water resources.
Deputy Chair of the Secretariat of the 10th World Water Forum National Committee who is also Expert Staff to the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) for Technology, Industry and the Environment, Endra S. Atmawidjaja said, Indonesia will share experiences in facing the challenges of managing water resources and its successes . Indonesia will also present several projects at the 10th WWF. It is hoped that from this meeting various collaborations and agreements will emerge which can be followed up into real implementation.
The 10th WWF is also a milestone in accelerating one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets , namely access to clean water and proper sanitation. Stakeholders will collaborate with each other in finding solutions to water problems in the world in this forum.
The 10th WWF was the largest meeting in history held after the COVID-19 pandemic, where Indonesia became the third country in Asia to host, after Japan and South Korea.
)* Social Observer from the Independent Intitute
