REGIONAL PROCESS SESSION DESCRIPTION FORM 2.
10TH WORLD WATER FORUM
Regional Session Code and Title:

RP10 – Strengthening Engagement in Water Security to Support Pacific Resilience.
Regional Session Coordinators (Name, Position, Organization, email, mobile number):

1. Dave Hebblethwaite, Water Security and Governance Coordinator, Secretariat of the PacificCommunity (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.
Regional Session Description including objectives and expected outcomes (500 words maximum):The resilience efforts of Pacific Small Island Development States (SIDS) have historically beenhampered by generally low levels of engagement in water security compared to other sectoralissues, and inadequate consideration of water security issues in regional frameworks anddecision-making processes. While the significant economic, health and environmental benefits ofimproved water and sanitation have been well demonstrated, the issue often doesn’t receive thelevels of attention proportionate to both the scale of the challenge and its critical role insupporting Pacific resilience. Similarly, while the issue is framed by the region’s established highlevel regional policy frameworks, these are yet to realise their full potential in driving andmonitoring the urgent water security action required across multiple sectors and stakeholders. Inresponse to this challenge, Pacific water and resilience stakeholders have come together under
the umbrella of the region’s overarching Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific(FRDP) and its associated Pacific Resilience Partnership (PRP) to develop a regional Engagement
Strategy on water security as both a resilience issue and resilience solution.
This session will showcase the key findings of the Engagement Strategy and present recommended
actions to strengthen the integration of water security considerations as a critical component ofPacific disaster and climate resilience. The integration of water security approaches into thedisaster risk reduction and climate adaptation efforts is a global challenge, and this session will
explore Pacific case studies and experiences that will likely be relevant to other regions.
Participants will have the opportunity to connect with water security actors and stakeholders
from the Pacific and examine the potential of new and strengthened water security partnerships
to support Pacific resilience.
The objectives of the session are to: showcase key findings of the Engagement Strategy; sharecase studies on the integration of Pacific water security, disaster risk reduction and climate
adaptation efforts; and provide an opportunity for participants to connect with water security
actors and stakeholders from Pacific Small Island Developing States and progress the potential of
new partnerships for resilience. Expected outcomes include: increased engagement on watersecurity as a key component of climate and disaster resilience in the Pacific; strengthened
collaboration and partnerships between Pacific Island Countries and development partners on
water security action for resilience; and strengthened understanding of the importance of water
security engagement strategies to increase collaboration and partnership across multiple
stakeholders and actors.

Wednesday 22nd May 2024.
Detailed Regional Session Plan: Wed RP 10 – 8:30am – 10:00AM
Venue - Kintamani 3
Chair – Akmal Ali, Co-Chair Pacific Resilience Partnership Water Security Technical Working Group and Project Coordinator of the Facility Aiding Locally LedEngagement (FALE) of the Pacific Islands Alliance for Non-Government Organisation (PIANGO).

ESTIMATEDTIMING
10 mins

ITEM DESCRIPTION /ROLE

SPEAKERS

Introduction of session
objectives and keynote
speakers.

Akmal Ali, Co-Chair PacificResilience Partnership Water
Security Technical Working
Group and Project Coordinatorof the Facility Aiding Locally
Led- Engagement (FALE) of thePacific Islands Alliance for
Non-Government Organization(PIANGO).

Key Points
 Importance of increasing engagement
on water security as a key
determinant of climate and disaster
resilience in the Pacific Strengthened collaboration andpartnerships between Pacific Island
Countries and development partners
on water security action forresilience.
Strengthened understanding of theimportance of water security
engagement strategies to increase
collaboration and partnership acrossmultiple stakeholders and actors.

 Water Security is a key resilienceissue that must result in strategic
water security pathways forresilience

SPEAKERSSTATUS (OKOR TBC)
OK15 mins

Water security
engagement and Pacificframeworks for climate
and disaster resilience

Mary Alalo, Water Security
Engagement Lead, PacificCommunity (SPC) &Secretariat to the PacificWater Security TechnicalWorking Group

1. FRDP – integrated Resilience
Framework for the Pacific.
2. Pacific Resilience Partnership (PRP)
3. Pacific Resilience Partnership
Support Unit

OK10 mins

Strengthening multisectoral engagement inwater security: Lessons
from the PacificResilience Partnership(PRP)

Kencho Namgyal, Chief WASH
Officer, UNICEF Pacific andCo-chair of the PRP Water
Security Technical Working
Group.

1. PRP Technical Working Groups
2. Lessons from the PRP Water Security
Technical Working Group

OKLessons from the PacificRegional Water Security
Engagement Strategy:
From Strategy toAction.
Interactive Session on Q&A

Regina Souter, Director,
International Water Centre,
Griffith University

1. Findings from the Water Security
Engagement Strategy Scoping Study

Moderator – Misileti MasoeSatuala, Project Development
Coordinator, Pacific Water andWaste Water Utilities.

1. Good practices for engagement –Ok
What are some good practices aroundincreasing engagement at all levels?

15 mins

20 mins

3. Strengthening Engagement throughthe Development of the Water
Security Engagement StrategyOK

2. Recommendations – Share somerecommendations on actions toimprove water security engagement
as a key element of resilience.
10 minsSession Outcomes andPolicy
Recommendations

Shirlee Rovou – WASH Adviser,
Water Aid Papua New Guinea,
and alternate Co-Chair of the
PRP Water Security TechnicalWorking Group.

Key Words
 Water Security Engagement for a
resilient Pacific Inclusive Partnerships
 Integrated Approaches

Ok Water Security as a key determinantof resilience Sustaining capacity
Pacific Resilience Partnership Water
Security Technical Working Group Water
Security Engagement Strategy Eight
Strategic Outcome Areas for strengthening
engagement in water security as a key
determinant of resilience. Based on thePacific Resilience Standards Four Pillars.
i.

Inform Strengthen understanding of the links
between water security and Pacificresilience through the promotion ofevidence and examples of successincluding encouraging adoption of aconsistent description of water
security and its importance forresilience Increase the availability ofknowledge and information onevidence-based water security
actions that support resilience
including best practices, emerging
technologies, research andpartnerships.

ii.

Include Identify and cultivate water security
champions from a diverse range ofbackgrounds and experience, andraise their voices such as women,youth, church, marginalisedcommunities and people, and fromother sectors such as gender & social
inclusion, tourism, agriculture,business, academia.
 Strengthen national and regional
dialogue on water security as aresilience issue, incorporating
diverse voices.
iii.

Sustain Strengthen capacity for effective andsustained water security advocacy at
all levels of governance systems,
including communities, including thecapacity to influence water security
attitudes and behaviours.
 Firmly embed water security
considerations in Pacific Climate
Change and Disaster dialogue andprocesses, including financing
mechanisms including ensuring these
initiatives adequately resource water
security actions

iv.

Integrate Increase cross-sectoral engagement
in water security across national andregional forums, processes,
campaigns, and events including
encouraging cooperation andcoordination of water security
actions across sectors.
 Integrate water security
considerations into national andregional development goals,
programs, plans, and investments
such as in National Adaptation Plans
and climate adaptation financing.
Next Steps Build on the partnership approachalready established.
 Re-engage with TWG members andother interested organizations toidentify and develop specific actionsaligned with these 8 strategies:
 Leverage actions that already exist inestablished/emerging
programs/activities for actions
determined as critical.
 Identify willing partners, resourcing,and develop implementation plans.

 Share lessons with other working
groups of the Pacific Resilience
Partnership

10 mins

Conclusions and closure

Akmal Ali, Co-Chair PacificResilience Partnership Water
Security Technical Working
Group and Project Coordinatorof the Facility Aiding Locally
Led- Engagement (FALE) of thePacific Islands Alliance for
Non-Government Organisation(PIANGO).

 The Pacific is strengthening its
Okengagement through the PacificResilience Partnership Water Security
Technical Working Group A Water Security Engagement
Strategy to increase engagement onwater security as a key determinantof resilience.
 Strengthen Engagement at all levels