World Water Forum
Dakar 2022
Introduction
From 22-27 March 2022, participants from every horizon, including political and economic decision-makers, multilateral institutions, academia, civil society and the private sector, gathered in Dakar, Senegal, for the 9th World Water Forum.
Building upon previous World Water Forums, the 9th World Water Forum sought, through an innovative framework, to identify, promote and implement concrete responses and actions for water and sanitation in an integrated manner. This was the first time that the World Water Forum, the largest international water-related event, was held in sub-Saharan Africa.
9th World Water Forum: “Water security for peace and development”
The World Water Forums were created in 1997, with the intent of making water a political priority on the global agenda. Held every three years, this event aims to bring together politicians, decision-makers, civil society, academia and the private sector to foster discussions on Water and how to better manage this resource.
When Senegal applied to host the 9th World Water Forum, they decided to focus on hydro-diplomacy. They elected the theme “Water security for peace and development” to highlight how water can create conflicts and solve others, arguing that Water should be at the center of sustainable development projects to ensure peace in the long run.
Four priorities emerged from this theme: “Water Security”, “Rural development”, “Cooperation” and “Means and tools”. Thus, the 9th World Water Forum discussions revolved around these four axes, with the objective of underlining how decision-makers can guarantee peace and development thanks to reasonable water-management.
“Honor, pleasure and joy that I cannot conceal, to return to this beautiful land of Senegal, which I have been lucky enough to travel for over 40 years, from Podor to the Pays Bassari, from Kidira to Touba.”
Highlights of the 9th World Water Forum
Four proposals for water
In his speech at the opening ceremony of the 9th World Water Forum, Loïc Fauchon set out four key points as guidelines for the World Water Council’s action in favor of water.
Flowing Solutions: Highlights from the 9th World Water Forum
From global leaders to grassroots innovators, the 9th World Water Forum brought together voices from around the world to tackle water challenges and drive sustainable solutions. This short video captures the key moments, insights, and commitments made toward securing water for all.
Quotes on the 2022 World Water Forum
Quotes of various World Water Council members, governors and participants to find out what they remember most about the event and what conclusions they draw.
What can we remember from this forum?
The Dakar World Water Forum was qualified to have had “a sustained and high-level participation, which made it a historic success in all respects”, with over 8000 participants and 216 sessions. During the Forum week, a total of 90 Ordinary Thematic Sessions (OTS), 33 High-level Panels (HLP), 62 Special Sessions (SS) and 46 Side Events (SE) were presented. More than 80 meetings were led or organized by the World Water Council members and the Task Forces. The main political segment of the World Water Forum was the Head of States meeting under the auspices of President Macky Sall who invited them and addressed the participants at the opening ceremony.
Our members represent over 250 organizations in more than 50 countries across 5 continents.
Their organisations are classified into five different colleges: Intergovernmental institutions (college 1), Government and Government promoted organizations (College 2), Commercial organizations (College 3), Civil society organizations (college 4), Professional and academic organizations (college 5).
Our members help build the World Water Council’s strategy and shape its programs by taking an active part in its various working bodies.
Our members elect the Board of Governors.
For the first time in the history of the World Water Forum, a high-level political segment was entirely dedicated to basins. This was made possible in Dakar thanks to the support of the World Water Council and the host country, Senegal. This segment on basins received all the political attention we had hoped for, with the presence of several key personalities. A whole day of sessions was dedicated to basin management, whether transboundary or national, which we had prepared in team with Switzerland, OMVS and OMVG and UNECE. We were able to have a very good geographical range represented, with the two largest river basins of the world. The Dakar Action Plan for Basins was adopted, which aims at implementing the Dakar Declaration, the “blue deal”, and to better support and mobilize basin organizations in the service of the two sustainable development goals (SDGs) directly concerned: integrated water resources management and transboundary approaches. About 100 signatories from about 50 countries.
A Blue Deal
Our members represent over 250 organizations in more than 50 countries across 5 continents.
Their organisations are classified into five different colleges: Intergovernmental institutions (college 1), Government and Government promoted organizations (College 2), Commercial organizations (College 3), Civil society organizations (college 4), Professional and academic organizations (college 5).
Our members help build the World Water Council’s strategy and shape its programs by taking an active part in its various working bodies.
Our members elect the Board of Governors.
Basins, the future of Water management
For the first time in the history of the World Water Forum, a high-level political segment was entirely dedicated to basins. This was made possible in Dakar thanks to the support of the World Water Council and the host country, Senegal. This segment on basins received all the political attention we had hoped for, with the presence of several key personalities. A whole day of sessions was dedicated to basin management, whether transboundary or national, which we had prepared in team with Switzerland, OMVS and OMVG and UNECE. We were able to have a very good geographical range represented, with the two largest river basins of the world. The Dakar Action Plan for Basins was adopted, which aims at implementing the Dakar Declaration, the “blue deal”, and to better support and mobilize basin organizations in the service of the two sustainable development goals (SDGs) directly concerned: integrated water resources management and transboundary approaches. About 100 signatories from about 50 countries.
Throwback on the implementation of the event
After the World Water Council elected Dakar (Senegal) to host the World Water Forum, several meetings took place to prepare the event: a kick-off meeting in June 2019, the 1st stakeholders’ meeting at the same time and the 2nd Stakeholders’ meeting in October 2021. Despite the huge impact of COVID-19 on the World Water Forum organization, the event was a success thanks to thorough preparation of the event.
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