The meeting, which will be attended by about 200 participants from development organisations, bilateral and multi-lateral groups, civil society organisations as well as governments, will focus on the need to improve investment in the water and sanitation sector in Africa.

The four-day meeting will include an African Workshop on the pricing of water and sanitation services and sanitation, a ministerial dialogue, a round table of donors, and the launch of an African Forum on innovative local solutions in the field of hygiene, sanitation and drinking water supply.

Read the full announcement (in French)

Held every three years, the World Water Forum is billed as the world’s largest water event. The 6th edition of the Forum expects to attract 25,000 participants from over 180 countries, including 140 ministerial delegations and 800 speakers.

The Forum will be guided by 12 Priorities for Action and 3 Conditions for Success, translated into common and measurable goals.

12 priorities for action

Ensure Everyone’s Well-Being
1.1 Guarantee access to water for all and the Right to Water
1.2 Improve access to integrated sanitation services for all
1.3 Contribute to hygiene and health through water and sanitation
1.4 Prevent and respond to water-related risks and crises
1.5 Contribute to cooperation and peace through water

Contribute to Economic Development
2.1 Balance multiple uses through IWRM – Integrated Water Resource Management
2.2 Contribute to food security by the optimal use of water
2.3 Harmonise water and energy
2.4 Promote Green Growth and value ecosystem services

Keep the Planet Blue
3.1 Improve the quality of water resources and ecosystems
3.2 Adjust pressures and footprints of human activities on water
3.3 Respond to climate and global changes in an urbanising world

3 conditions for success

CS1 Good governance
CS2 Financing water for all
CS3 Enabling environments

The programme includes highlevel roundtables, a ministerial conference, a local and regional authority conference, a Parliamentarian conference, grassroots and citizenship events, all leading to commitments
and declarations at the end of the week.

Several Prizes will be awarded at the Forum:

• The King Hassan II Great World Water Prize rewards a long-term project or career
• The Kyoto World Water Grand Prize is awarded to a person or organisation that has carried out grassroots actions to respond to the water needs of communities in critical situations
• The ‘Compromiso Mexico’ Water Prize
• The RIEC-International “Water & Film” Event

A dedicated web site  -the International Platform of Solutions, www.solutionsforwater.org - has been set up to collect  existing or innovative solutions to help address the global water challenges.

Web site: www.worldwaterforum6.org

Held concurrently with the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the forum will discuss water issues in the United States as well as global water challenges. The main aim is to take the first step toward organising a worldwide education and awareness campaign on the global water crisis.

More than 500 individuals are expected to participate in the forum.

For more information go to these web sites:

www.chroniclesgroup.org/watersummit/home.html
www.ewiny.org/international-water-forum.html

Theme: Building a Sustainable Global Future

Organised  by: International Water Association (IWA)

Topics:

• Utilities Asset Management
• Environment and Ecology
• Communications and Information
• Climate Change
• Economics, Policy & Sustainable Planning
• Water, Agriculture and Food

Abstract deadline: 15 September 2011

For more information go to the conference web site: iwa-wcedublin.org

Organised by: UNESCO International Hydrological Program (IHP), National Environmental Authority, International Center for Sustainable Development, and Interinstitutional Commission for the Canal Watershed

HELP is the UNESCO-IHP crosscutting initiative on Hydrology for the Environment, Life and Policy.

Themes:

• Global change impacts on river basins and aquifer systems
• Strengthening governance and institutions
• Ecohydrology for healthy ecosystems
• Water, food and energy nexus
• Water education and knowledge sharing

For more information go to the conference web site: www.helpsymposium.com

Organised by: University of Nevada, Wessex Institute of Technology

Topics:

• The nature of water
• Water as a human right
• Water as the source of life
• Water in a changing climate
• Future water demands and adaptation strategies
• Water resources contamination
• Surface and sub-surface water resources
• Irrigation and desertification
• Water, sanitation and health
• Transnational water rights
• Legislation and controls
• Water through the ages
• Lessons to be learnt
• Water and disaster management

Organised by: Aqua Foundation

Theme: Adaptive & Integrated Water Management

Topics:

• Concepts of Adaptive Water Management
• Managing Change & Measuring Performance of Water Management
• Adaptive and Multi-level Water Governance
• Climate Change & Implications for Water Management
• Novel Tools and Frameworks for Implementation of Adaptive and Integrated Management Strategies
• Water Resource Development, Management & Quality
• Sustainable Development in Urban Areas
• Sustainable Development in Rural Areas (incl. Drinking water for rural sector- meeting the demand;
• Multiple use of water resources)
• Irrigation Technologies
• Water Resources, Climate Change & Energy Scenario
• Managing Water Infrastructure
• Water & Health
• Green Innovations
• Modeling, Monitoring & Management of Water Pollution
• Future Plans for Sustainable Water Solutions
• Institutional, Policy & Legal Issues (incl. Water Access as a Fundamental Right)

For more information go to the conference web site: www.worldaquacongress.org

Conference themes:

• Innovations in Water Education
• Successful Approaches to WASH Education
• Technology & Water Education
• Encouraging Water Education in Corporate Sustainability
• Education Solutions for Priority Water Topics (including WASH)

On September 16th, Danish actress Connie Nielsen, best known for her role in the film Gladiator opposite Russell Crowe—will discuss her work on sustainable sanitation solutions with the Human Needs Project in the Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya.

Presenters come from more than 20 countries and represent international organizations like UNESCO and UN-Habitat, multinational corporations including Intel, Microsoft, Google, Nestlé Waters and Abbott, government agencies such as USAID, NOAA and NASA, and primary and secondary schools as well as colleges and universities both in the United States and abroad. The Project WET Foundation will also unveil its new Project WET Curriculum & Activity Guide, Generation 2.0 and accompanying teacher portal as well as its new web experience for children, DiscoverWater.org.

Full progrmamme

Web site: www.projectwet.org/blueplanet

Web site:

Under the umbrella of Afriwater, the biennial water and waste exhibition and conferences, the following events will be co-located:

• WISA 2011 Conference, 15 September, organised by the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) with the theme: “Water Quality – Problems and Solutions”
• IPUC 2011 – International Pump User Conference : Adapting Pumping Systems for an Era of Limited and Expensive Power, 13-14 September, more information
• Pumping System Assessments Workshop, 15 September

Web site: www.afriwater.co.za

Organised by the Water Technologies for Emerging Regions (WaTER) Center at the University of Oklahoma, the conference will bring together water and sanitation experts from academia, industry, NGOs, government and foundations.

Conference theme: Synergy at the Interface: Integrating Technology, Social Entrepreneurship and Behavior Change.

Ben Fawcett, 2011 International WaTER Prize Winner, will give a plenary address.

Keynote speakers:

• Ned Breslin, Water for People – Hydrophilanthropy
• Annette Johnson, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology – Water Technologies
• Dennis Lettenmaier, University of Washington – Water Resources/Climate Change
• John Oldfield, Water Advocates – Legislative Update
• Kurt Soderlund, Safe Water Network – Social Entrepreneurship
• Peter Winch, Director, Social and Behavioral Interventions Program, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health – Behavior Change