UN-Water Regional Expert Consultation on Water Security in Asia-Pacific, 9 November, 2015

Asia Pacific Challenges on Water Security:

Outcomes of the 2nd Asia Pacific Water Summit (APWS),

the Regional Process on the 7th World Water Forum, and

the Request for the Cooperation toward the Successful Implementation of the 3rd APWS

Yumiko ASAYAMAManager, Japan Water Forum

The secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF)

About Us

established as Non-Profit Organization in 2004 Objectives: To serves as a contact point for exchange and cooperate among water stakeholders in Japan and abroad in order to: • coordinate international water issues and discussion and • promote concrete actions on water problems in Asia-

Pacific region and the world Three key themes 1. Improvement of access to water and sanitation, 2. Implementation of actions to prevent water related

disaster, 3. Facilitate sustainable Implementation of wastewater

treatment, slug treatment and reuse

Strong points 1

1. Supported the activities by the powerful 85 water related corporate members in Japan.

2. Work closely with diverse stakeholders in the world

Strong points 2

• Work as the catalyst to convey the policy proposal to address water security by serving the Secretariat of the Asia Pacific Water Forum (APWS) and Asia-Pacific Regional Process of the World Water Forum.

Principle of the APWFAn independent, not-for-profit network of

the water stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region

•Established in 2006 in line with the discussion during the4th World Water Forum Ensure better access to water sanitationProtect and restore river basin freshwater resourcesReduce the vulnerability of human populations towater-related disasters

•Many agencies in the region and the region’s ministerssupported the ideas of the establishment of APWF toencourage greater collaboration and better integration ofwater resource management into socio-economicdevelopment.

The Outcomes of past Asia-Pacific Water Summit (APWS)

and Asia-Pacific regional process

on the 7th World Water Forum(WWF)

1st Asia-Pacific Water SummitPlace: Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, JapanDate: 3rd and 4th of December, 2007Theme: Water Security: Leadership and CommitmentOutcomes: The Message from Beppu & The Policy Brief 2007

Reaffirmed the necessity to address water and sanitation targets of the MDGs and achieve universal water access by 2025, and

Called for:• Improved water governance• Action on floods• Drought and other water-related disasters• Support of SIDS in addressing the impacts of

climate change on lives and livelihood

2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit

• Place: Chiang Mai, Thailand• Date: 19th and 20th of May, 2013• Host: Government of Thailand• Theme: Water Security and Water-related Disaster Challenges:

Leadership & Commitment• Consisted of: a high-level plenary, & ministerial-level Leader’s

forum, and 7 focus area discussions• Outcome: The Chiang Mai Declaration & The Summary

of Focus Area Sessions

Invites the APWF to mobilize initiatives to support the recommendations and consider establishing Asian Water Information System.

1. Economic, Food and Water Security(FAO/ESCAP)

It is necessary to adopt knowledge-based green growth that is inclusive and equitable to eradicate hunger and poverty by 2025 while ensuring economic, food and water security

2. Urban Water Security(UNHABITAT, PUB)

Highlighted the need for a paradigm shift from “waste water” to “used water”, water demand management, capacity building of local authorities, knowledge sharing, and community engagement

3. Environmental Water Security (IUCN)

Supported cooperative efforts and investments in natural infrastructure to enhance the environmental contribution to water security for household, urban, economic, food, and risks and resilient needs

4. Household Water Security(ESCAP, UN-HABITAT JWF)

Highlighted the role of innovative management and business practices in improving access to water supply and sanitation, call for data collection modalities, improved monitoring systems and financing modalities through multi-stakeholder collaboration

5. Water Risks and Resilience (ICHARM)

Encouraged the Asia-Pacific region to lead the global community in addressing water-related disasters by establishing a clear-cut target on water and disaster for the SGDs agenda

6. IWRM Process (UNESCO) Emphasized the post-2015 development agenda should establish measureable targets on IWRM beyond the MDG targets, advocating for an inclusive approach

7. Water-related Disaster Challenges: Thailand Experience (Thai Government)

Agreed to take immediate action to: support adaptation of water management to account for climate change, develop database, forecasting and warning systems, reduce risks of floods, drought and other disasters, formulate incident action plans to provide support for victims, improve governance

Focus Area Sessions in the 2nd APWS

• Emphasizes the importance of water for human security, environment, and economy,

• Prioritizes water and sanitation and IWRM in national agendas, including disaster risk reduction and water issues in the post-2015 agenda

• Enhance reginal and international cooperation on science and technologies

• Reduce water pollution, improve water quality and protect freshwater, combat desertification

• Minimize the impacts from the water related risks and disasters by increasing technology transfer, capacity building and knowledge sharing

• Improve efficiencies of the agricultural sector • Accelerate the incorporation of integrated water resources planning and

management in national socio-economic development planning process • Prioritize the use of information and communication technology for

development of water related disaster risk reduction and relief system, and build resilient societies

• Strengthen networking and partnership

The Chiang Mai Declaration

The APWF Regional Synthesis Meeting at the 7th World Water Forum

• 11 themes were considered to assess priority actions to water challenges

• Gathered recommendation roadmaps, action plans and monitoring activities for water security

• Encouraged heads of government and regional water stakeholders to present their strong will and commitments to address water challenges and collaborate positively in a stepwise approach toward the solution

11th themes prioritized at the 7th World Water Forum

1. Water and Cities2. Water and Green Growth3. Water and Food Security4. Water related Disaster5. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)6. Rural Water and Sanitation7. Development of Cooperation in the Aral Sea Basin8. Trans-boundary Rivers in Northern Asia9. Korea-Japan-China Trilateral Cooperation10. Hydrological Services11. Inter-regional cooperation between the Caribbean and

the Pacific

Request for the Cooperationtoward the Successful Implementation of

the 3rd APWSUnder the coordination to organize in 2017.

The Challenges• the difficulty to provide financial mechanism to assist

implementing the action plan in the region in line withthe policy proposal from the APWS and World WaterForum

• Conducting the monitoring in a sustainable manners

Further collaboration are required not only fromwater specific aspect but also from the relevant cross-cutting sectors

Thank You

• APWF Homepage: http://www.apwf.org/

• 7th World Water Forum Final Report: Asia-Pacific Regional Processhttp://www.waterforum.jp/apwf/archive/documents/top_pdf1.pdf

President: Mr. Yoshiro Mori

former Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Japan Water Forum

Governing Council

Chair: Mr. Ravi Narayana

Vice Chairs: Ms. Changhua Wu, Mr. Simon SC Tay

Member OrganizationsLead Organization

Leaders for 5 Key Result Areas & 3 Priority Themes

Sub-regional CoordinatorCoordinators for 5 sub-regions

Member OrganizationWater-related Organizations in the region to mobilize and commit adequateresources to implement the tasks for 5 Key Result Areas & 3 Priority Themes

Secretariat

Japan Water Forum

Note: Structure of the APWF

Note: Collaboration with 5 regional coordinators