World Water Forum
Marrakech 1997
Introduction
The creation of a World Water Forum or World Water Council was one of the recommendations made by experts at the Dublin International Conference on Water and the Environment. Many hoped that this request would be fulfilled at the Rio Summit (1992), with the creation of a UN body on the subject. However, this did not happen, and water issues remained largely overlooked at this international meeting. The water community decided to act on this absence of mobilisation and the World Water Council was created in 1996.
These reflections on the need to politicise a subject usually confined to the technical spheres of engineering lead to another realisation: the necessary cooperation between technical sectors (civil engineering, academia), commercial sectors that distribute water (Veolia, Suez), governments, intergovernmental organisations and civil society organisations. It led to the creation of the World Water Forum as we are familiar with nowadays: a multi-stakeholder event, dedicated to making water a global political priority.
As the main mission of the World Water Council was clear – to politicise water at various levels – the question of “how” to make that happen was defined in 1997: through the organisation of a triennial World Water Forum with a host country, to highlight the key stakes revolving around water. And the first-ever World Water Forum took place that year in Marrakech, Morocco.
1st World Water Forum: “Vision for Water, Life and the Environment”
The 1st World Water Forum unfolded from March 20th to the 25th, 1997, in Marrakech (Morocco). Even though this Forum only reunited 500 participants, it was a milestone for water: it enabled water specialists to exchange ideas to make this matter a global political subject. The theme was clear: to define what political actions need to be taken to protect water, life and the environment, three subjects all intertwined.
Highlights of the 1st World Water Forum
Perspectives on World Water
To open the first World Water Forum, it was essential to clearly expose several viewpoints regarding world water and the stakes ahead for political leaders. A High-level panel enabled participant to expose what were their perspectives on World Water.
On the Road Toward a Long-Term Vision for World Water
Building on their global perspectives, panelists also displayed the importance of having a long-term vision for water. They explained what preoccupations world leaders should have regarding water-related issues.
Celebration of World Water Day and Fourth Session: The challenges of the 21st Century
The 1st World Water Forum was wrapped up through the celebration of World Water Day and discussions around what will be the place of Water in the 21st-century challenges.
What can we remember from this forum?
This Marrakech Forum revolved around four sessions, including one underlining what was at stake during World Water Day (March 22nd). It was the occasion to exchange about perspectives, long-term vision and what challenges were to be expected regarding Water. Below, you will find the lists of the different participants on each panel and the subjects they evoked.
To open this first-ever World Water Forum, a High-Level panel was brought together to discuss their viewpoints on Water, Life and the Environment. It reunited:
- Mr. Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development (represented by Mr. Pierre Najlis): The role of fresh water in sustainable development
- Mr. Hassan Abouyoub, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Morocco: Water and globalization of trade
- Mr. Ismail Serageldin, Chairman, Global Water Partnership: Partnership for international water management
- Mr. Bo Kjellen, Swedish Ambassador to the United Nations: Comprehensive Freshwater Assessment
- Mr. Mohamed Benmejdoub, Director, Rotary International: Water and the Rotary International
- Mr. Asit K. Biswas, Chairman, Technical Program Committee, World Water Council: Lessons learned since Mar del Plata
- Mr. Anthony Milburn, Executive Director, International Water Quality Association: The need for a blue revolution
- Mr. Jon Lane, Director, Water Aid: Governments and NGOs: partners for the next millennium
To address this complex theme, the panel was co-chaired Mr. Hassan Abouyoub (Chairperson), Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Morocco and Mr. Ismail Serageldin (Co-Chairperson), Chairman of Global Water Partnership. The session was organised around the interventions of:
- Baroness Chalker, Minister for Overseas Development, United Kingdom: Putting water policy development into practice
- Mr. A. Meziane Belfkih, Minister of Public Works, Morocco: Integrated water management
- Mr. Kader Asmal, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Republic of South Africa: Water resources management in Africa
- Mr. H. Martin Lancaster, Assistant Secretary, Department of Defense, USA: Water policy of the US Army Corps of Engineers
- Mr. Ranjith Wirasinha, Executive Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council: The need for a long-term vision in the water supply and sanitation sector
- Mr. Herman E. Roo, International Hydropower Association and Board Member of ADELCA: Prospects for Hydropower development: a perspective from Latin America
- Mr. Aly Shady, President, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage: Water and agricultural development
To celebrate World Water Day, the World Water Council was pleased to welcome high-level personalities, hosted by Prime Minister His Excellency A. Filali, Sir F. Mayor, Sir G.O.P. Obasi and Sir M. Abu-Zeida. The participants of this session were:
- Mr. Jacques Diouf, Director General of FAO: Water and food security
- Mr. Anders Wijkman, Assistant Administrator UNDP Chairperson: Mr. A. Filali, Prime Minister, Morocco
- Welcoming address by Mr. A. Filali, Prime Minister, Morocco
- Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations (represented by Mr. Jin Yongjian, Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Department for Development Support and Management Services): Water and the United Nations
- Mr. Federico Mayor, Director General of UNESCO: Water and Civilisation
- Mr. James Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank (represented by Mr. Ismail Serageldin, Vice-President): The World Bank water resources management: policy and priority
- Mr. James Gustave Speth, Administrator of UNDP (represented by Mr. Anders Wijkman, Assistant Administrator): Water, energy and environment
- Mr. G.O.P. Obasi, Secretary General of WMO: Climatic changes and global freshwater management
To discuss the challenges of the 21st Century, the panel of the 4th session was composed of:
- Mr. O. Kabbaj, President of the African Development Bank
- Mr. Mitsuo Sato (represented by Mr. Pierre Uhel, Vice-President)
- Mr. Abdellatif Y. Al Hamad, President of the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development
- Mr. J. M. Martin, Director, European Commission: European Task Force, Environment and Water
- Mr. Jérôme Monod, President of La Lyonnaise des Eaux: The role of the private sector in water management
- Mr. Alex Taylor, President of Agra Industries Ltd.: The role of consulting firms in promoting public/private partnerships
- Mr. David McDowell, Director General of IUCN (represented by Mersie Ejigu): Freshwater and biodiversity
- Mr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, Chairman of the World Water Council: Marrakech Declaration
First Session: Perspectives on World Water
To open this first-ever World Water Forum, a High-Level panel was brought together to discuss their viewpoints on Water, Life and the Environment. It reunited:
- Mr. Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development (represented by Mr. Pierre Najlis): The role of fresh water in sustainable development
- Mr. Hassan Abouyoub, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Morocco: Water and globalization of trade
- Mr. Ismail Serageldin, Chairman, Global Water Partnership: Partnership for international water management
- Mr. Bo Kjellen, Swedish Ambassador to the United Nations: Comprehensive Freshwater Assessment
- Mr. Mohamed Benmejdoub, Director, Rotary International: Water and the Rotary International
- Mr. Asit K. Biswas, Chairman, Technical Program Committee, World Water Council: Lessons learned since Mar del Plata
- Mr. Anthony Milburn, Executive Director, International Water Quality Association: The need for a blue revolution
- Mr. Jon Lane, Director, Water Aid: Governments and NGOs: partners for the next millennium
Second Session: On the Road Toward a Long-Term Vision for World Water
To address this complex theme, the panel was co-chaired Mr. Hassan Abouyoub (Chairperson), Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Morocco and Mr. Ismail Serageldin (Co-Chairperson), Chairman of Global Water Partnership. The session was organised around the interventions of:
- Baroness Chalker, Minister for Overseas Development, United Kingdom: Putting water policy development into practice
- Mr. A. Meziane Belfkih, Minister of Public Works, Morocco: Integrated water management
- Mr. Kader Asmal, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Republic of South Africa: Water resources management in Africa
- Mr. H. Martin Lancaster, Assistant Secretary, Department of Defense, USA: Water policy of the US Army Corps of Engineers
- Mr. Ranjith Wirasinha, Executive Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council: The need for a long-term vision in the water supply and sanitation sector
- Mr. Herman E. Roo, International Hydropower Association and Board Member of ADELCA: Prospects for Hydropower development: a perspective from Latin America
- Mr. Aly Shady, President, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage: Water and agricultural development
Third Session: Celebration of World Water Day and Fourth Session: The challenges of the 21st Century
To celebrate World Water Day, the World Water Council was pleased to welcome high-level personalities, hosted by Prime Minister His Excellency A. Filali, Sir F. Mayor, Sir G.O.P. Obasi and Sir M. Abu-Zeida. The participants of this session were:
- Mr. Jacques Diouf, Director General of FAO: Water and food security
- Mr. Anders Wijkman, Assistant Administrator UNDP Chairperson: Mr. A. Filali, Prime Minister, Morocco
- Welcoming address by Mr. A. Filali, Prime Minister, Morocco
- Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations (represented by Mr. Jin Yongjian, Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Department for Development Support and Management Services): Water and the United Nations
- Mr. Federico Mayor, Director General of UNESCO: Water and Civilisation
- Mr. James Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank (represented by Mr. Ismail Serageldin, Vice-President): The World Bank water resources management: policy and priority
- Mr. James Gustave Speth, Administrator of UNDP (represented by Mr. Anders Wijkman, Assistant Administrator): Water, energy and environment
- Mr. G.O.P. Obasi, Secretary General of WMO: Climatic changes and global freshwater management
Fourth Session: The challenges of the 21st Century
To discuss the challenges of the 21st Century, the panel of the 4th session was composed of:
- Mr. O. Kabbaj, President of the African Development Bank
- Mr. Mitsuo Sato (represented by Mr. Pierre Uhel, Vice-President)
- Mr. Abdellatif Y. Al Hamad, President of the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development
- Mr. J. M. Martin, Director, European Commission: European Task Force, Environment and Water
- Mr. Jérôme Monod, President of La Lyonnaise des Eaux: The role of the private sector in water management
- Mr. Alex Taylor, President of Agra Industries Ltd.: The role of consulting firms in promoting public/private partnerships
- Mr. David McDowell, Director General of IUCN (represented by Mersie Ejigu): Freshwater and biodiversity
- Mr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, Chairman of the World Water Council: Marrakech Declaration
Saudi Arabia
Riyadh 2027
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