Second Panel Discussion (RL to chair):
GEOSS Capability and Needs of Stakeholders:Introductory presentations will be made by each panelists (panelists from embassies and aid
agencies will be offered a modified set of questions). Panelists are asked to focus on one
question in more detail and then comment on one other question that they feel is important. The
suggested presenters for each question are given in parentheses.
1) Considering the overall area of responsibility and trends what would you say are theinformation needs in your geographic area that will increase in the future? (Madan KumarBhatlarai, Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, Masayuki Tamagawa)2) What types of decisions does your organization make in relation to water and watermanagement? Where do you get your information to assist in making these decisions?
(Yusuke Amano, Yoshiaki Kinoshita)3) How could the existing information available in the local communities for decision
making be improved (quantity, accuracy, timeliness, access, etc)? (Douglas Cripe, Toshio
Koike)

4) In assessing the priorities for supporting water activities how does your agency decide
which projects should receive funding? (Masami Fuwa, Mikio Ishiwatari)
The ensuing discussions would provide clarification on these points and allow the audience toadd their views. It would provide an overview of regional capabilities and the needs ofStakeholders.
Panel Discussion at the end of Day 2:
The open discussion period will be introduced by Prof. Koike and Rick Lawford who will outline
their impressions of the discussions and identify points which either have not been addressed orneed to be addressed in more depth. The audience will then be invited to comment on thesepoints and to give their views on how these points can be best addressed within the AWCI,AfWCCI and GEO frameworks. Specifics of the discussion will be developed just before thesession.
Final Panel Discussion on Day 3:
The following points would be addressed first in short statements from the panel members andthen through discussions and interventions from the audience.
From plans to implementation:
A. The current status of AWCI and AfWCCI activities
Based on the presentations we heard over the last two days what is our present situation
with respect to current needs in different basins and nations, present programmes andcapabilities, and our ability to coordinate and deliver on these programmes?

B. The future plans for AWCI and AfWCCI acitivites. Emphasis should be given to thePDMs that will be circulated before the workshop.
What do we want to achieve in 10 years(?) 5 years(?) 2 years(?) through the efforts ofGEO activities in Asia and Africa? Special consideration should be given to the ways inwhich AfWCCI and AWCI could contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.
C. This discussion will provide guidance on how we move from the current situation tofuture milestones. This topic will be the centerpiece for the discussions.
Given the needs of stakeholders, the capabilities of participating organizations and thefunding interests of ODAs what steps do we need to take now? Specific issues thatshould be addressed include 1) the means of implementation (tools, data, funds and otherresources, capacity building; 2) how to organize among agencies and on-going activities
to address our needs; 3) identifying the ways in which AfWCCI can take advantage oflinkages with AWCI and GEO infrastructure and vice versa. These should include steps
that will involve incremental improvements in the ability of responsible services todeliver a programme.
D, Given that this Symposium represents a unique opportunity to bring together Asianand African experts, what ongoing coordination functions and activities can be developed
to maximize the benefits of this collaboration on an on-going long-term basis?