4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit:
Water for Sustainable Development
Best Practices and the Next Generation
Kumamoto, Japan, 23-24 April 2022

Chair’s SummaryPreamble
This Chair’s Summary shows the pathway toward quality growth and is part of the Kumamoto Declaration process. In the AsiaPacific Region, quality growth is by definition resilient, sustainable, and inclusive. This Summary compiles the outcomes of two
rich days of presentations and exchanges of views to answer questions raised in the Declaration, which was adopted by the Headsof State and Government at the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit. It includes the key messages of four integration sessions, whichbuilt on the outcomes of nine thematic sessions and two special sessions. Despite the difficult times of the Covid-19 pandemic,
in these sessions, Heads of State and Government and other leaders, such as policymakers, heads of government agencies, practitioners, scholars, representatives of civil society organizations, as well as the private sector, discussed a wide range of waterrelated issues, found challenges and opportunities from the perspective of governance, finance, as well as science and technology,
and proposed concrete actions alongside a wide range of perspectives shared by the participants in the sessions.
Over the decades, the Asia-Pacific Region has considerably improved in terms of water security but is currently facing difficulties
responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple kinds of hazard. The Region also needs to address water-related risks
exacerbated by climate change. I hope the Heads of State and Government of Asia and the Pacific, alongside the other leaders,will accelerate their concerted action, engage youth and the generations to come, from the drawing board all the way to implementation and evaluation, and lead the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Outcomes of the Summit Sessions
Synthesized by the Overall Integration Session

The following outcomes of the Summit sessions are the answer to the inquiry by Heads of State and Government at the 4th Asia
Pacific Water Summit (APWS):
1. Towards a Sustainable Society
As the primal contribution to building an overall sustainable society, the water sector should achieve all water-related SDG
targets such as SDG 6.1-6.6 and 11.5. We are, however, alarmingly off-track from the path towards the achievement of SDGs,
and were so even before COVID-19. The water sector should transform itself in the three key areas of governance, finance, as
well as science and technology if we hope to achieve SDGs.
Governance. Mainstream integrity and transparency practices across water organizations as a foundation to transform all water
subsectors. Invest in human resources, inter alia, to achieve this result. Creating trans-sectoral, stakeholder-inclusive and fullytransparent governance is key. The concept of valuing water should be embedded in the minds and actions of all stakeholders topromote behavioral change and facilitate holistic collaboration by all. Specific recommendations include: use the digital transformation to improve and visualize water management efficiency; integrate water management principles at national to provincial
and district levels; improve the decentralization of decision-making processes; and apply mentoring and peer-to-peer approaches
to build the capacities and skills of small and emerging cities.
Basin-wide water management based on IWRM should be the norm rather than the exception. Increase policy coherence anddevelop legal and other frameworks at all levels, taking into account a source-to-sea and IWRM approach to restore and keep asound water cycle. Not only freshwater, but also solid water including glaciers, aquifers, oceans, and islands should be within
the scope of the framework. Further recommendations include: strengthen regional legal frameworks and institutions; hold inclusive regional dialogues; and upgrade existing arrangements to enhance transboundary cooperation. Governance and financesystems need to be tailored towards the diverse climate, geographic, and socio-economic conditions of the Region (Asia+) andshould be developed based on research and dialogue. The issues of Small Island Development States (SIDS) should be given
special focus to address these challenges.
Finance. Given the off-track status of SDGs, drastically increase total investment in the water sector. Direct and indirect benefitof water investment should be numerically articulated to convince finance institutions and taxpayers and attract investors bydeveloping and standardizing the analytic method for this purpose. Specific recommendations include: encourage cost sharing

1and pooled resources, support water security actions from multiple funding sources, and ensure that investment and managementof water-related infrastructure and technologies are designed to be multi-purpose.
Science and Technology. We cannot improve what we cannot measure. The collection, archiving, and sharing of water data andinformation, including those of water risks, should be promoted through establishing appropriate frameworks and organizations,as well as prioritized investment. Transboundary information sharing is particularly important. Building global observatories
should be supported by the Region.
Water can broadly contribute to global socio-economic advancement by helping building peace and regional stability. For thispurpose, enhance the leaders’ awareness that cooperation on water, particularly on water emergencies, such as disasters, can be
an agent for peace and promote effective actions; promote the use of “Principles to Foster Peace before, during, and after Waterrelated Disasters” which was launched at the APWS; use traditional technologies such as cylindrical water distributers and alocally nurtured culture of peacefully sharing water in society.
2. Towards a Resilient Society
COVID-19 reminded us how our society and systems were unprepared for sudden disturbance and changes. Water can and shouldplay a critical role to build a post-COVID-19 society that is more resilient and adaptive to sudden and slow onset disturbancessuch as pandemics, disasters, and climate change. Decision-making by leaders should be quick and evidence based.
Science and Technology. Here, science and technology plays a critical role. For this: Position science and technology as “agame changer” towards a fully resilient post-corona society through three actions: Promote water cycle consilience by accelerating the Open Science policy, particularly focusing on observation, modeling and data integration; Foster "Facilitators," that is,catalytic beings who can lead the way toward resolving problems by providing professional advice on-site using a broad rangeof scientific and indigenous knowledge; and Work together beyond disciplines and sectors among different levels while taking
an end-to-end approach.
Slow-onset changes should be given special attention. Yearly and seasonal hydrological patterns and those of water demand arechanging quickly due to climate change and other socioeconomic changes. Those changes should be addressed by adaptive
policies, as well as resilient and green infrastructure. Demand management of water should be given higher attention.
3. Towards an Inclusive Society
An inclusive society is a must not only for the achievement of SDGs but also as an engine for socio-economic growth, by fully
tapping diverse capabilities and talents of human beings. The water sector should be an enabler. For this purpose: make genderequality and social inclusion a core goal for any institution; to aim all budgets to be at least responsive to gender and vulnerability;
carry out gender and inclusivity analysis at all levels as a core component of research; empower youth to provide solutions anddemonstrate their expertise in areas of technology, innovation, and data; encourage, initiate, and support Meaningful YouthEngagement (MYE); to strengthen Youth-Government Partnerships at all levels; promote direct investment in actions for, of,and by youth, including startups.
4. Towards the UN 2023 Water Conference and Beyond
Water, Climate Change, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) were discussed in most thematic sessions and all integration sessionsof the 4th APWS. As such, connection and linkage of these three elements were the core focus of the Summit. The resulting
recommendations and proposals of action on these three issues reflect the Region’s rich experience and relevant practices. TheKumamoto Water Initiative announced by the Government of Japan at the Summit focuses on these three issues in an integrated
manner. As such, we recommend that Water, Climate Change and DRR are discussed as a key topic for global processes, particularly the UN 2023 Water Conference. It is expected that the Kumamoto Water Initiative will make progress by enlarging thecircle of commitments in the Region and beyond.
As related recommendations were and will be shared at major processes, such as the Bonn Conference, the 9 th World WaterForum, the Dushanbe Water Process, as well as the Lisbon Ocean Conference, messages and recommendations of the APWS
including those in this document should be closely connected with those of the other processes.
Commitments and actions of the APWS do not end today but will start again from tomorrow. The organizers expect that all
participants in the Summit will keep their steady progress and decisive steps towards the solution of every water challenge andbuild a quality society in the Asia-Pacific Region and the world.

April 24, 2022
Yoshiro Mori
Chair of the Joint Executive Committee of the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit
President, Asia-Pacific Water Forum
Former Prime Minister of Japan2