SUB-REGION SYNTHESIS SESSION DESCRIPTION FORM
10TH WORLD WATER FORUM
Session Title :Sub-Region (Oceania) Synthesis Session: Water security and the resilience of small island communities ofthe Asia-PacificSub-region Coordinators (Name, Position, Organization, email, mobile number):
1. Dave Hebblethwaite, Water Security and Governance Coordinator, Secretariat of the Pacific Community(SPC). Email: daveh@spc.int. Mobile: +679 9983059. 2. Mary Alalo, Water Security Engagement Lead,
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). Email: marya@spc.int. Mobile: +679 2350385.
Session Description (300 words):
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face unique social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities, andare at the front line of climate change impacts. SIDS already experience a disproportionately high exposure
to disaster risk, with climate change affecting both the likelihood and impact of slow onset and sudden
hydrometerological events. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment
Report (2022) affirms with at least medium confidence level that increased water security risk will beexperienced in almost every small island on Earth.
The Asia-Pacific region is home to almost half the world’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS), as well as
countries with significant populations living on small islands. More than a third (17) of our member
countries are SIDS, including the world’s only four nations comprised exclusively of low-lying atolls (Kiribati,the Maldives, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu). Over half the SIDS of the Asia-Pacific region
have no surface water at all, or are home to significant populations living on islands with no surface water.
For these communities, water resources are confined to shallow aquifers and rainwater collected from roofs,
as well as supplementary sources such as desalination where available.
While the common water security challenges of SIDS are some of the world’s most demanding, our region’s
island communities are at the forefront of implementing innovative local solutions – strengthening
community resilience by drawing upon systems of traditional knowledge and governance together with
cutting edge science. This session will explore the efforts of small island communities across the AsiaPacific to achieve climate resilient water systems, and demonstrate how investment in local water security
solutions can and should play a critical role in addressing the existential threat of climate change.
Key messages from your Sub-region (2 maximum)
1.

The Asia-Pacific region is home to almost half the world’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS),
including all of the world’s atoll nations, as well as numerous countries with significant populations
living on small islands at the front line of climate change impacts.

2.

More needs to be done to support the development, implementation, sharing and upscaling of locallyappropriate and locally owned solutions by the small island communities of the Asia-Pacific, including
through strengthed knowledge partnerships, access to training and capacity building opportunities, andimproved and accelerated access to investment mechamisms such as climate financing.

Concrete outcomes (eg. Initiatives, practices, dialogue, commitment, etc.) (5 maximum)
1.

Identification of opportunities for new and strengthened partnership dialogues to support the water
security of small island populations of the Asia Pacific region.

2.

Identification of opportunities to build upon and expanding existing communities of practice forsmall island water security.

Detailed Session plan (TBC):
ESTIMATEDTIMING

ITEM DESCRIPTION / ROLE

SPEAKERSSPEAKERSSTATUS(OK ORTBC)

5 minsIntroduction of session objectives
and keynote speakers.

Moderator – Dr Milika Naqasima Sobey,
Senior Technical Adviser - Coastal
Ecosystems, GIZ

OK

10 mins

Water security challenges andopportunities in an Indian Ocean
Small Island Developing StateHon. Waven William, Elected Member forGrand Anse Mahe District, Republic ofSeychellesOK

10 mins

Civil society organizing for island
resilience: Lessons from thePacific FALE (Facility Aiding
Locally-led Engagement)

Akmal Ali, Pacific Islands Alliance of NonGovernmental Organisations (PIANGO)

OK

10 mins

Opportunities for regional dialogue
and cooperation through the Asia
Pacific Water Forum

Yumiko Asayama, Manager, Japan Water
Forum (JWF)OK

10 mins

Regional partnerships for capacity:
lessons from the Pacific Water andWastewater Association

Misileti Masoe-Satuala, Pacific Water andWastewater AssociationOK

10 mins

Opportunities to strengthen theapplication of Integrated Water
Resources Management solutions
in small islands

Griselda (Gay) G. Santos, Regional Directorfor Southeast Asia, Water.org

TBC

10 mins

Regional partnerships for action:
lessons from the PacificPartnership for Atoll Water
Security

Dave Hebblethwaite, Water Security andGovernance Coordinator, the PacificCommunity (SPC)

OK

20 mins

Interactive Session with Panel
Members and Q & A

Dr Milika Naqasima Sobey

OK

5 minsSummary - outcomes andconclusions

OK