Parallel and Side Events Contents Page

Water for African Cities

Presented by UN-HABITAT

Kader Asmal, South African Minister of Education, emphasized the unique nature of the UN-HABITAT Programme on water for African cities in building capacity to improve water management. He highlighted a value-based approach to water education and underscored the need to prioritize the limited funds available.

Anna Kajumulo Tibajuka, UN-HABITAT Executive Director, highlighted water as a key indicator on how countries manage development, and noted increasing demand for water in African cities. She identified current restructuring and reorganization of the water sector in many countries, and emphasized the importance of water catchment management and waste reduction.

Yaw Barimah, Ghanaian Minister of Works and Housing, emphasized conservation of water and regulation of water use as measures to achieve sustainable water supply for people in Ghana. He emphasized the importance of water demand management and value- based water education programmes.

Ronnie Kasrils, South African Minister for Water Affairs and Forestry, highlighted Johannesburg's development of a water conservation strategy, including an awareness raising campaign and initiatives to build a catchment strategy. He stressed the importance of partnerships and financial resources.

Zahia Hamdani Meghji, Tanzanian Minister for Natural Resources, noted the severity of water pollution and said that the programme on water for African cities is timely and appropriate.

Klaus Töpfer, UNEP Executive Director, advocated focusing on water demand before addressing supply, and called for investment in water supply maintenance. He noted that the poorest people pay the highest price for water and stressed the need for incentives for private investments.

Timothy Wirth, UN Foundation, highlighted achievements of the UN- HABITAT programme, including establishing national steering committees and launching demonstration projects. He called for public education and invited potential donors to join the programme.

Jamar Saghir, the World Bank, noted that water and sanitation contribute to poverty reduction, and underscored the need for increased private sector investment. He highlighted water pricing and market based instruments as measures to secure water conservation and water supply management.

Richard Dolly, the Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council, highlighted the importance of incorporating consumer demands, advocated a focus on sanitation and hygiene, and called for restructuring of existing resources.

Discussion: Participants discussed: water pricing; expansion of the programme; the role of women; and water storage.

Water, climate and Agenda 21: Action by local government

Presented by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)

Kaarin Taipale, ICLEI, stressed the importance of implementing sustainable development at the local level. She called for acknowledgment in the WSSD political declaration of local governments' capacities.

Parks Tau, City of Johannesburg, and Patrick Karangwa, Mwanza, outlined the successes of, and challenges in, providing water and electricity to African cities. Tau urged the Summit to ensure global access to water, and called for agency and government support in local initiatives.

Beate Weber, City of Heidelberg, outlined factors of successful implementation of Local Agenda 21 by a local government, including communicating with the public; developing consistent development strategies; and reporting to communities on progress achieved.

Bill Wood, Australia, described the participation of Canberra in the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign. He explained that the city's efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions include developing transportation policies and exploring new energy sources.

Judy Walker, ICLEI, called for moving from words to action in the post-Johannesburg decade with a focus on viable local economies and empowered, peaceful, eco-efficient and resilient communities. She stressed the need to build capacity at the local level and employ available environmental management tools, including eco- procurement and investment.

Jacqueline Aloisi de Larderel, UNEP, stressed the importance of integrative thinking, clear goals, monitoring of results, and the sharing of experiences. She highlighted UNEP's role in assisting local communities to move toward sustainable development.

Khalid Mohtadullah, Global Water Partnership (GWP), stressed the importance of dealing with water issues at all levels, and welcomed long-term partnership between ICLEI and the GWP.

Harvey Ruvin, Miami-Dade, called for optimism in efforts to resolve sustainable development challenges, and compared ICLEI and local authorities with a beacon pointing toward sustainability.

Women and water, sanitation and hygiene for all

Presented by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Eirah Gorre-Dale, WSSCC, stated that the event focused on women’s role as care givers, providers, educators, and managers of safe water, sanitation and hygiene. She said that the WSSCC aims to accelerate the progress towards safe water, hygiene, and sanitation for all, by stimulating actions by governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and the private sector. She introduced the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for all (WASH) campaign.

Richard Jolly, WSSCC, called for a shift from global focus to national implementation, and stressed that clean water is necessary to protect human health and the environment.

Nane Annan stressed that access to water and sanitation is a community concern, especially for children and women. Noting that hygiene can reduce water related diseases by 33%, she highlighted the need for high-level political commitment and community ownership and management.

Anne Perterson, US Agency for International Development, stressed the central role of women in African families. She noted the US’ commitment to the WASH campaign.

Sonjica Buyelwa, South Africa, expressed concern over the controversy related to access to water during the WSSD. Noting that seven million people in South Africa do not have adequate access to sanitation, she emphasized that access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is a human right. She stressed that the WASH campaign in South Africa is based on a multistakeholder partnership, and called for improvement of women's technical education and capacity to participate in the decision-making processes related to water.

Gugu Moloi, Umgeni, stressed the need for women's involvement in: service delivery mechanisms; management; shaping future water policies and legislation; and identifying appropriate technologies. Describing Umgeni's ongoing activities, she called for job creation at the local level, education, activism, and partnerships.

Margot Wallström, European Commissioner for the Environment, introduced an EU-initiated partnership aimed at improving access to water and sanitation.

Maria Mutagamba, Ugandan Minister of State for Water, introduced Uganda's WASH activities, and stressed the need for participation of women in decision-making at the local level.

Kul Gautaum, UNICEF, highlighted the link between lack of access to water and poverty. He stressed the role of women and girls in breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty, and noted the role of schools and education.

Ronnie Kasrils, South African Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, explained the need to move from words to action, and identified ways of motivating people. He emphasized the importance of developing networks for awareness raising.

Discussions: Participants discussed, inter alia: concerns over the privatization of water utilities; access to water in urban areas; joining the WASH campaign; and the need for a shift from defence priorities to providing basic utilities.