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Organization : International Office for Water
Acronym: : IOW
Nationality of the organisation of establishment : France Year of establishment : 1991
college to which your organisation belongs to :
College 5:Professional and academic organisations
Scope of your organisation : Local
Regional: sub-national
National
Regional: multi-national
International
Are you organiation's activities focused primarily on water and sanitation ? : Yes No
Please indicate your organisation's field(s) of expertise and activities :
  • Water resources management
  • Basic Human needs or health
  • Development or infrastructure
  • Climate or natural hazards
  • Environment or ecosystems
  • Water supply or sanitation
  • Agriculture or food production
  • Human rights or social issues
  • Education or capacity building
  • Human settlements or habitats
  • Regulation and governance
  • Economics or finance
  • Research or development
  • Energy or industry
  • Media awareness
  • International cooperation or humanitarian relief
You may specify your activities by providing a list of more precise keywords:
professional training, data management, Water information systems, network development and facilitation, technical and institutional assistance, policy dialogues, peer to peer projects, capacity building, transboundary cooperation
Description of your Organisation's activities : - PROFESSIONAL TRAINING: Comprehensive and quality training for professionals at all levels in the water sector (small and large cycles), industry, waste, agriculture and biodiversity, Catalogue-based training courses, Audits and customized training courses, Support to the establishment and development of training platforms and professional water training centers - DATA & WATER INFORMATION SYSTEMS Support to the strengthening of data collection, processing, standardization, management and sharing, Support to the establishment and strengthening of Water Information Systems (WIS), Analysis and production of documentation services, strategic monitoring, Capitalization and dissemination of intellectual contents. - TECHNICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ASSISTANCE Governance capacity building (legal and institutional frameworks, administrative reforms) for bodies in charge of water management (ministries, local authorities, water and sanitation utilities, national and transboundary basin organizations), Support to the development and operational implementation of strategies and plans for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), River Basin Development and Management, hydraulic works and collective irrigation, Transboundary cooperation Audit and technical support to project management and implementation of regulations, Testing, adaptation and use of the tools and methods drawn from the most ambitious regulations on water management (e.g. European Water Directives, especially under the European Neighborhood Policy), Transfers of research and innovation. - FACILITATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF NETWORKS Sharing of experiences and good practices The Euro-Mediterranean Information System on the know-how in the Water Sector (EMWIS). African Water Information and documentation System (AWIS). Network of the facilitators of SAGEs (Water Management and Development Plans) and Environmental Contracts (Gest’Eau). The Global Clean Water Desalination Alliance (GCWDA). OECD Water Governance Initiative (WGI) UNECE Global Network of Transboundary Basins on Adaptation to Climate Change

Governor representative :
First Name : Eric Last Name : Tardieu
Title : Dr. Position : General Director
Nationality : France Gender : Male Female
Email : e.tardieu@oieau.fr
background : After graduating from Ecole Polytechnique, prestigious post-graduate multidisciplinary engineering French school, Eric Tardieu got a PhD in urban wastewater treatment, including research work in Beijing, China. He served as a water policy officer in France, applying and managing national and European regulations. He then held successive responsible positions in the public sector for national, regional (Normandy) and local (Toulouse) authorities, working with elected or appointed decision makers, implementing policy regulations, designing multistakeholders strategies and measure plans. He has been engaged not only in the field of water resources management and environmental protection, but also for local economic development, innovation and research, public private partnerships or European and international cooperations. He is since 2017 the general director of the International Office for Water, together (starting November 2018) with the position of Secretary General of the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO).

Alternate representative :
First Name : Judith Last Name : Enaw born Efundem Agbor
Title : Mrs. Postion : General Secretary of CICOS
Nationality : Cameroon Gender :
Email : efundemjudith@gmail.com
background : Judith Enaw born Efundem Agbor is graduated from Word University of Malmö in Sweden. She got a master degree in maritime administration and maritime environment protection. She had a public career in Cameroon, for the ministry of Transport, where she recently hold the position of Head of the directorate for maritime affairs and waterways. Since 2016, she's been appointed Secretary General of CICOS : International Commission of the Congo-Oubangi-Sangha Basin. CICOS is a strong partner of IOW both for projects on the Congo basin, but also for the advocacy of IWRM in international events and conferences.

Organisation statement:
Please describe the involvement of your organisation within the World Water Council and state how long it has been involved in World Water Council activities : The International Office for Water already has close ties with the WWC and intends to formalize them through this application as governor. IOW is part of numerous projects involving members of WWC, international organizations (UNESCO, UNECE, OECD), member countries (African countries, China, Brazil, European and mediterranean countries). Since WWF6 in Marseille, IOW has been strongly involved in the organization of the World Water Fora, up to WWF8 in Brasilia through the coorganization or facilitation of many sessions. In the recent years, among other actions, IOW has been one of the founding members of the #Climate is Water Initiative, and has played an active role in the “water and climate” advocacy, for example with the Global Alliances for Water and Climate, together with concrete projects, such as the incubation platform GAWCIP dedicated to the early stage assistance for water and climate related projects. Since COP21, IOW has been an active stakeholder of the “water events” during the UNFCCC Conferences of the Parties, including the preparation of next edition in Poland. In 2018, IOW has also participated in the publication “Global Water Security: lessons learnt and long-term implications” through the redaction of the chapter about France. It is interested in the information and networking hub of the WWC, on different approaches of water security. Capacity building, water information systems and international cooperation are among the key topics of common interest. IOW will get involved in the World Water Fora, as it did in the past, as well as in other activities of common interest which would include (but not be limited to) event organization, workshop facilitation, joint publications, project development, and advocacy.
For what reasons do you wish your organisation to have a seat on the Board of Governors ? IOW’s core mission is to enhance capacity building in order to improve water management. As a member of the board of the WWC, we would like to scale-up our partnerships and commitment mainly through 2 priorities: Catalyze new dialogues: dialogues between different scales (city-, basin-, state-, transboundary level, dialogues between different sectors (water, energy, food, health, etc…). IOW is involved in cooperation projects in France, in Europe and many countries of different regions of the world, including Africa, Mediterranean, Asia (East, South East and Central), Latin and Central America. We’ve learnt that this multilevel and cross-sectoral approaches are necessary for a sound management of water resources, adapted to each regional context: IOW is willing to share experiences of operational IWRM projects, and, as a board member of the Water Governance Initiative facilitated by OECD, IOW will also be able to disseminate conclusions and practices in this field. We believe that the political role of WWC in fostering these dialogues among and through its members, in building new relationships with regional or local authorities, can make a difference on the road of improving sustainable water security. Promote education, training and capacity building: not only infrastructures, but also human organizations, are key triggers and factors of success for a better water management in each region of the world. Technical skills and professional capacity are absolutely necessary to operate smoothly water facilities and infrastructures, and all levels of water practitioners have to be well trained. Stronger public and private investments are necessary, and can positively impact water management and job creation together. Decision makers have to be better supported, water related data have to be better disseminated, and the public at large has to be better involved through information sharing and awareness rising initiatives and tools. We present an open governor/alternate duo, respectful of geographical diversity and gender balance, resolutely committed to opening our horizons, particularly on Africa.