KIWW

The distinguished high-level participants of WLRT will share their insights and experiences on the theme of KIWW 2023, 'Water Disaster Risk Management Resilient to Climate Crisis' under the overarching theme of KIWW 2019 - 2023, ‘Sustainable Water Management for Human and Nature’. ‘Water Leaders’ Action Declaration’ will be one of the major results of KIWW, and be embodied through the follow-up activities of each participant.

Water Leaders Action Declaration 2023 Draft

In 2022, opinions were collected from 19 high-level attendees, and the Leaders’ Round Table implementation declaration was adopted. Additionally, confirmation and discussion were conducted on the 5 Focus Areas for the 3-year KIWW major theme ‘Sustainable water management for humans and nature’.

Water Leaders Action Declaration 2022 Draft

34 water leaders including ministers of water related ministries from Republic of Korea, Algeria, Senegal, and Sri Lanka and vice ministers of Vietnam, Oman, and Thailand as well as the presidents from influential global water organizations including the World Water Council, Global Water Partnership, International Water Resources Association along with heads of corporations and NGOs shared their insights based on their expertise and local or regional based specialized knowledge and experiences on ‘Sustainable Water Management for Humans and Nature’.

• The result of the Leaders` Round Table Declaration, which was finalized by being circulated through all participants after the KIWW 2019 for two weeks, revised individually, and reflecting their opinions, is outlined as follows:
  
  • For universal and equitable access to safe drinking water, the leaders agreed upon the need for assigning a high priority to water and sanitation and allocating proper resources to the water and sanitation sector….
  • For nature-based solutions for water management, high-level participants made a consensus on carrying out efforts to preserve and restore the water-related ecosystems….
  • For economic, social, and ecological resilience, they recommend the countries to realize the process of incorporating integrated water resources planning and management within the framework of national and regional and, socio-economic development planning processes….
  • For smart water management for sustainable communities and natural habitat, they sympathized with the necessity of increasing access to technology and enhancing capacity development and knowledge sharing to promote various use of water and reducing adverse impacts from water-related risks and disasters on livelihoods and environments….
  • For financing the implementation of solutions to water challenges towards SDGs, they shared the insights as to maximizing the value of existing assets by improving the operational efficiency and effectiveness of existing infrastructure in order to promote water security…
  • For water partnership and cooperation at all levels ensuring good governance, they shared the necessity of catalyzing partnerships at all levels among different stakeholders, including public authorities, the private sector, civil society etc, to achieve the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Water Leaders Round Table(WLRT), which celebrated its third anniversary, was attended by 32 high-level leaders from governments, international organizations, public organizations and NGOs in the water sector to share examples and opinions on implementation of the Water Partnership for Sustainable Development. And based on the adopted Water Leaders Action Declaration 2016, they agreed with the Water Leaders 'Action Declaration 2018 (Water Leaders' Action 2018), which contains four major agendas and encouraged the implementation.

• Four Major Focus Areas of Water Leaders` Action 2018
  • Developing Financing Systems
  • Enhance Capacity Building and Raise Awareness On Water
  • Develop Integrated Smart Water Management(ISWM)
  • Facilitate Partnership at all levels

25 representatives and heads of the delegations of the governments, international organizations, corporations, academia and civil society discussed ideas regarding ‘Water Partnership for Sustainable Development’. Reaffirming the declaration ‘Water Leaders Action Declaration’ adopted in KIWW 2016, the leaders prioritized four main focus areas out of ten in the declaration, ensuring commitment of the leaders to resolving global water challenges based on implementation.

34 high level leaders shared cases and efforts of their countries for the Sustainable Development. ‘Action Declaration’ of Water Leaders Round Table was adopted focusing on implementation of follow up actions, ensuring the leaders’ commitment to the action plans and encouraging implementation.