10TH WORLD WATER FORUM
CONTRIBUTION OF WEPATO THE THEMATIC PROCESS
Presented by: Dr. Pham Ngoc Bao
WEPA Secretariat(Source: WWC, 2023)

FORUM PROCESS INTERLINKAGESPolitical Process
Governments, parliamentarians, Ministers, local authorities, and basin
authorities develop political agendas to be prioritized and makecommitments. The thematic process will provide in-depth content based onprioritized topics and themes to the high-level decision-makers.
Thematic Process
All global multi-stakeholders develop action plans and facilitate theimplementation of action plans mobilizing various organizations and experts
to have concrete and practical solutions to imminent water issues identified
during the process associated with each sub-theme and topic.
Regional Process
In different regions and sub-regions, develop and facilitate actions to resolve
urgent regional water issues and find tailored solutions to the local water
situation. In this process, better understanding of the regional water context andcooperative structure for common solutions is expected. The thematic process
will provide a thematic approach and perspective to seeing regional water
issues identified by the regional process.
(Source: WWC, 2023)

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THEMATIC PROCESS INTERLINKAGESWATER FOR SHARED PROSPERITY••••••

Water for Humans and Nature
Water Security and Prosperity
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Governance, Cooperation and Hydro-diplomacy
Sustainable Water Finance
Knowledge and Innovation

Political Process•••••(Source: WWC, 2023)

Head of States
Ministers
Parliamentarians
Local Authorities
Basin Authorities❖ Common Challenges:
Climate Change, Population Growth, Urbanization, Energy Crisis, Soil,
Marine and Air Pollution, etc.
❖ Cross-cutting Enablers:
Governance, Science and Technology, Innovation, Financing &Investment, Cooperation, and Partnership, Policy Development, CircularEconomy, Education & Capacity Building

Thematic Process
••••
•
•

Topics of Water for Humans and Nature
Topics of Water Security and Prosperity
Topics of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Topics of Governance, Cooperation and HydroDiplomacy
Topics of Sustainable Water Finance
Topics of Knowledge and Innovation

Regional Process
••
•
•
•
•

Asia Pacific
Mediterranean
AmericasCentral Asia…
…
33

SUB-THEMES
2. WATER FOR HUMANS & NATURE

1. WATER SECURITY AND PROSPERITY
Water insecurity is becoming a growing threat in aworld that is rapidly changing due to the impacts ofunsustainable development, raising inequalities,
climate change, and the ensuing increasing
competition over water resources.

6. KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION
Scientific progress and technological innovation as
well as indigenous know-how, needs to be shared,taught, made broadly available and scaled up tohelp address the growing water challenges theworld community is facing.

5. SUSTAINABLE WATER FINANCE
Investments in water are strikingly insufficient toreach a water-secure world. Financing water issues
affects human and environmental health, food andenergy security, and economic growth. Now morethan ever, it is important to promote concrete
solutions to improve the financial systemeffectiveness in mobilizing more capital for water
issues.
(Source: WWC, 2023)

1. Water
Security andProsperity

6. Knowledge
andInnovation

2. Water for
Humans andNature

3. DISASTER RISK REDUCTION &MANAGEMENT

Water for
SharedProsperity

5.
Sustainable
Water
Finance

Water as a
critical resource for humans andnature. We depend on healthy, functioning
ecosystems for our water security. The
degradation or destruction of freshwater
ecosystems inevitably leads to acute problems
affecting aquatic biodiversity but also ourlivelihoods and health.

3. DisasterRisk
Reduction &Management

4.
Governance,Cooperationand Hydrodiplomacy

Extreme weather events – often linked to thehydrological cycle – are becoming more frequentand destructive. Disaster Risk Reduction andManagement is a crucial topic to be discussed
during the 10th Forum.

4. GOVERNANCE, COOPERATION AND
HYDRO-DIPLOMACYGood water cooperation amongst global actors,
hydro-diplomacy as well as sound governancewithin the water community and beyond are vitalto overcome the growing competition over water
resources, improving mutual understanding andidentify acceptable trade-offs between all waterusers.
44

TOPICS
1. WATER SECURITY AND PROSPERITY

A. Sound water supply and demand
management
B. Circular economy in the watersector and non-conventional
water resources
C. Water for food & agriculture
D. Water for energy
E. Water insecurity anddevelopment(Source: WWC, 2023)

2. WATER FOR HUMANS
AND NATURE

A. Water quality improvement
B. Conservation and restoration offreshwater ecosystems andbiodiversity
C. Safe drinking water for all
D. Water sanitation and hygiene(WASH) for all
E. Integrated Water Resources
Management (incL IRBM, ICZM,
S2S, WEFE Nexus, etc.) andcross-cutting, cross-sectoral
approaches

3. DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND
MANAGEMENT

A. Integrated flood prevention andmanagement
B. Drought prevention andmanagement
C. Ecosystem-based DRR in theWater sector
D. Climate-smart, sustainable andimproved resilience of water
infrastructures
E. Early warning systems for all andEmergency response mechanisms,(incl. preparedness plans anddisaster scenario analysis)
55

TOPICS
4. GOVERNANCE, COOPERATION AND
HYDRO-DIPLOMACY

5. SUSTAINABLE WATER FINANCE

6. KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION

A. International collaboration atall levels, incl. transboundaryand cross-border cooperation

A. Revisiting of international water
financing architecture (incl. neweconomic approaches) withemphasis on transparency,
accountability, fairness & equity
B. Innovative and sustainable funding,financing and delivery mechanisms
C. Improved funding for basic accessto safe water and sanitation for allat all scales
D. Special schemes and incentives
promoting green finance
E. Enhanced funding to cope withwater crises, water disasters andfor climate resilience

A. Smart Water Management andtechnological innovation
B. Innovative organizational
approaches
C. Respect and valuation ofindigenous, traditional, andcommunity-based knowledge
systems and integration of theirpractices into existing water
management policies
D. Upscaling of water information
systems
E. Enhanced access to education &training on water (incl. hydrologyhydrometeorology-hydrogeology)& new concepts

B. Decentralized cooperation (e.g.
at RBCs, regional & local level)
C. Enhanced cross-sectoral
dialogue and cooperation
D. Active stakeholder involvement
and public participation
E. Transparent and accountable
institutions and legal
frameworks, integrity andequity (incl. gender, youth,minorities…)(Source: WWC, 2023)

66

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SESSION 2.A.1 & 4.A.1
4.A.1. Integrating and implementing cooperation at alllevels for water for shared prosperity“Water for shared prosperity" refers to the idea that access tosustainable water resources is essential for the well-being anddevelopment of communities, regions, and nations. Integrating andimplementing cooperation at all levels is crucial to achieving this goal.
This session will address the following key aspects: (1) water
management issues in bilateral and multilateral cooperation, including
at basin/aquifers, sub-regional, regional and international levels, (2)basin organizations efforts for inclusive, sustainable and integrated
water resource management, (4) cross-border cooperation in thecontext of ecosystem protection and restoration to ensure sustainableclimate resilient resource management,(5) joint infrastructure
management and sharing benefits to consolidate cooperation, (6)cooperation and sharing knowledge.
Implementing cooperation at all levels for water management involves a
combination of policy frameworks, technical solutions, stakeholder
engagement, and a shared commitment to sustainable practices.
Collaboration and collective action are key to ensuring access to water
for all and fostering shared prosperity.

(Source: WWC, 2023)

2.A.1. Road Map for Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment: From
Ecological Status assessment to planetary blue health under Climate
ChangeIn an era marked by rapid climate change, industrialization, and population growth, thissession aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of the challenges, advancements, andholistic strategies in safeguarding water resources through effective water quality
monitoring and assessment. Under “water quality monitoring and assessment”, monitoringfor known and pollutants of emerging concern, including PFAS, microplastics,pharmaceuticals, PCPs, AMR, AMG and pathogens in freshwater, groundwater, and marine
ecosystems, will be addressed and discussed in relation with the natural state,anthropogenic effects and future uses of water. The envisaged “Roadmap” aims to foster aholistic approach to water quality management that considers the impact of climatechange, stresses the importance of water quality assessment and supports science-based
policies and management strategies to protect water resources from diffuse and point
sources of pollution (from source to sea)with the ultimate aim to restore and promote theirsustainable use. Another pivotal aspect of the roadmap will be the exploration of theconcept of "planetary blue health”, by considering its interconnectedness to water quality
and climate change. Furthermore, insights and progress on the development andimplementation of new models in spatial and temporal water quality assessment as well as
the application of digital technologies for water quality monitoring, assessment, andmanagement, will be showcased. Moreover, the session aims to emphasize theinterdisciplinary nature of water quality monitoring, illustrating how collaborative efforts
across scientific disciplines, policy domains, and social engagement of citizens cancontribute to sustainable solutions.
77

WORKING GROUPS STRUCTURE(Source: WWC, 2023)

88

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM WEPA TO SUB_-THEME 2A & 4A

(Source: WWC, 2023)

99

(Source: WWC, 2023)

1010PARTICIPANTS FROM JAPANTHEMATIC PROCESSES WORKING GROUP TIMELINEJULY2023• SCG,TCGselected• Coordinators Meeting(Source: WWC 2023)

AUGUST2023

SCG,TCG
Meeting

OCTOBER 2023

MAY 2024

2ND STAKEHOLDERMEETING

10THWORLDWATERFORUMSEPTEMBER2023

SEPTEMBER2023

TCG: TopicsOverview/
SCG: Sub-theme
Overview/
Proposal of JointHLP Subject/
Activities
Issues for Political ProcesPsroposalof the issues for
the PoliticalProcess

OCTOBER2023

JANUARY2024

FEBRUARY 2024

TCG,SCG:FinalOverviewof
Sub-Theme and Topics,Sessiontentativetitle, issues
for Political Process, Joint
Activitiesproposal,

Thematic
Sessions
finalization

Sub-themeand
Topic Synthesis
Sessions
Development

AUGUST 2023

SEP 2023

DEC 2023

JAN2024

Stockholm
WorldWater
Week

IWRA
World Water
Congress

UNFCCCCOP 284th
Mediterranean
Water ForumMAY 2024

TCG: Synthesis of theoutcomes of the sessions,
Key issues ofthe Topic
SCG: Synthesis of theoutcomes of the Topics.Keyissues of theSub-theme12121313