THEMATIC PROCESS CONCEPT NOTE

10th WORLD WATER FORUM

The Thematic Process provides the substantive underpinning of the World Water Forum. The process will be structured with Main Theme, ‘Water for shared Prosperity’, Six Sub-themes, and Five topics per each sub-theme to share best practices and experiences on those priorities. The Forum operates the thematic process to develop cooperative methods and partnerships on the specified technical and political solutions. The outcomes of the process eventually influence the policy-makers to apply better solutions and facilitate stakeholders to commit for actions. Participants of the Thematic Process are expected to develop and facilitate the implementation of action plans with tangible solutions to imminent water challenges.

The Thematic Process is interlinked with other processes. Considering that sub-themes, common challenges and enablers also need to be discussed in a local and regional context, the Thematic Process will be interconnected with the Regional Process. The Thematic Process is also associated with the Political Process bearing in mind that the topic for every commitment, policy, discussion, and recommendation of each/between different political segments will notably revolve around the sub-themes. To ensure all processes are interlinked based on a coherent mission to facilitate ‘action,’ each process commission will regularly communicate and exchange on the progress made.

 

OBJECTIVES

• Identify thematic sub-themes and topics under the main theme in consideration of global challenges and enabling conditions
• Elaborate the technical content and its implementation from debate to action
• Seek concrete responses and practical and customized solutions by organizing sessions mobilizing multi- stakeholders for in-depth discussion and showcases of best practices

 

EXPECTED OUTCOMES 

• Measures to be implemented at different political levels: policy measures, solutions, action plans and commitments
• Mobilization of public & private stakeholders from inside and outside the water community
• Development of tangible (technical, policy-based) methodologies with practical strategies to make plans executed and implement solutions.

DELIVERABLES 

• Sub-theme summary by each Sub-theme Coordinator
• Topic Summary per Topic (approximately 5), under each of the 6 Sub-themes, by Topic Coordinators
• Session Summary by the Session Coordinators

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MAIN THEME 

“Water for Shared Prosperity”

SUB-THEMES

• Water Security and Prosperity
• Water for Humans and Nature
• Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
• Governance, Cooperation and Hydro-diplomacy
• Sustainable Water Finance
• Knowledge and Innovation

 

COMMON CHALLENGES AND ENABLERS

 

1.  Challenges:

• Main drivers  : unsustainable economic development, population growth, climate change, growing social inequality, biodiversity loss, globally spread diseases…
• Geopolitical context : increasingly multipolar world and unstable international relations, global power shifts, state rivalry over access to natural resources (incl. water, energy, metals, food, crops), weakness of international public institutions, unsustainable international trade, and unsuitable international economic policies...
• Governance issues:  lack of political will, non-transparent governance of financial/trade institutions and transactions, non-respect of rights of various social groups (poor, children, women, indigenous people, ethnic minorities, migrants and refugees, etc…), lack of governance mechanisms with respect to the sound management of global commons…
• Economic/financial aspects:  lack of investment in sound water management (e.g. WWT infrastructure, WASH, water saving measures), in green economy/nature-based solutions and climate resilience; unfit financing institutions’ architecture; unmet ODA goals and commitments…

2.  Enablers: 

• Governance/political:  Enhanced international collaboration/cooperation at all levels (multilateral, bilateral, North-South, South-South, cross-sectoral, regional, local, basin etc.), improved transparency and accountability at all levels of government and private sector policy- and decision-making. Strengthened stakeholder involvement and public participation, incl. access to justice.
• Socio-economic:  Inclusion of environmental and social safeguards/criteria into economic policies, financing institutions as well as trade’s practices at the national and international level, promotion of circular economy and fair trade models and solutions.
• Environmental:  Adoption of strong binding international and national commitments and legal frameworks on biodiversity protection and restoration, sound water resources management, adaptation to climate change, disaster-risk reduction and resilience. Better implementation and enforcement of environmental law and administration at national level. Increasing funding for necessary biodiversity protection and restoration measures.
• Technological/R&D/Innovation : Promotion of and investment in innovative technological (data sciences, etc.) and non-technological solutions (e.g. indigenous knowledge) as well as holistic, systems approaches. Citizen science should also be taken into consideration in the shaping and adoption of solutions.
• Knowledge/Education:  Facilitation of access to children’s and youth’s education and life-long learning for adults to improve knowledge and skills in water management and awareness reg. environmental and sustainability issues. Funding of education for socially weaker groups to foster employment and career opportunities. Awareness-raising initiatives for the public at large.
• The Youth Involvement:  Such involvement is strategic for the sustainability of the impact of the World Water Forum with respect to Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to Water for Shared Prosperity. Therefore, youth involvement must be encouraged and mobilized in all Thematic, Regional, and Political Process.

SUB-THEME DESCRIPTION & CONTENT

 

1.      Water Security and Prosperity  

The topic of water security, and related prosperity, is one of the most critical our world has been facing for decades and water insecurity is becoming a growing threat in a world that is rapidly changing due to the impacts of population growth, unsustainable development, raising inequality and climate change, and the ensuing increasing competition over water resources.

Topics to be addressed during the next World Water Forum, and which require more overall political attention as we move closer to 2030, to achieve SDG 6 and other related SDGs, are the following:

i.  Sound water supply and demand management   (incl. prioritizing water savings and efficiency measures, water services delivery and pricing, cost recovery, development and improvement of water balance system from local to national level, surface reservoir, sustainable ground water resources, etc.) in the context of domestic water usage and human settlements, balancing urban, rural and industrial development with available surface and ground water resources.

ii.  Circular economy in the water sector and non-conventional water resources  (e. g. WWT recycling and reuse, rainwater harvesting, desalination, constructed wetlands, artificial aquifer recharge, solar pumps, etc.)

iii.  Water for food/agriculture  (virtual/embedded water, irrigation modernization and efficiency, drought resilient crops, regenerative agriculture, commodity pricing, agricultural subsidies, food estate, etc.)

iv.  Water for energy  (hydropower, incl. dams and reservoirs; biofuels; hydrogen production by electrolysis; cooling of nuclear and thermal power plants; etc.)

v.  Water insecurity and development  (climate change and water-related impacts, e.g., economic and social vulnerability, competition over water resources, food insecurity, migrations (urban), political instability etc.)

2.      Water for Humans and Nature  

Water is a critical resource for all life on Earth, both for humans and nature. We depend on healthy, func- tioning ecosystems for our water security. They provide us with a plethora of goods, services and wellbeing. The degradation or destruction of freshwater ecosystems inevitably leads to acute problems affecting aquatic biodiversity but also our livelihoods and health. 

Topics to be addressed during the 10th World Water Forum, and which call for increased political attention as we move closer to 2030, to achieve SDG 6 as well as SDGs 2, 14, and 15, are the following:

i.  Water quality improvement  (reduction and remediation of biological, chemical, plastic, and other types of water pollution, addressing point and diffuse sources of pollution, etc.) for the reduction of environmental pollution and related health issues (incl. viral epidemics, cholera, malaria)

ii.  Conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity  (incl. Nature-based Solutions, protection and restoration of aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems), protection and restoration of aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems, incl. river, lakes and wetlands, respect the right of rivers to survive in nature, develop river ethics, protect river’s healthy life and achieve a harmonious coexistence between human and river.

iii. Better access to safe drinking water for all (guaranteed water rights, inclusivity in accessing water for all gender, children, and more vulnerable group ,  water services management etc.), including in fragile contexts and humanitarian settings

iv. Access to water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for all, as a key human right, incl. wastewater and solid waste-treatment infrastructure development and hygiene services in urban or smaller human dwellings and off-grid solutions for, e.g. more remote rural populations or refugee settlements

v.  Integrated Water Resources Management , incl. Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM), Water- Energy-Food-Health-Ecosystems inter-linkages, Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), Source- to-Sea, Integrated hydrology, hydrogeology, hydro-oceanography, and hydrometeorology, Integrated surface and groundwater management, atmospheric water movements (see Global Commission on the Economics of Water report) and other cross-sectoral or cross-cutting approaches

 

3.     Disaster Risk Reduction and Management   

As extreme weather events – floods, droughts, heat waves, storms, etc. – due to the changing climate – are becoming increasingly frequent and destructive, and most are linked to the hydrological cycle, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management is a crucial topic to be discussed at the 10th World Water Forum. Moreover, Indonesia, the host country of the next Forum, is frequently struck by water-related disasters, and particularly by floods and cyclones, and gives high priority to this issue.

Topics to be addressed during the next World Water Forum under this theme are the following :

i.  Integrated flood prevention and management  policies and programs (mitigation of extreme weather events, flood control projects, floodwater management, coastal zone protection, dam sedimentation, early warning systems, etc.)

ii. Drought prevention and management  policies and programs (adaptation plans, drought-resilient crop selection, restoration for peatland and mangrove, etc.)

iii.  Application of Eco-DRR in the Water sector , incl. policy or regulatory measures, prevention mechanisms, and best practices of ecosystem-based DRR approaches (e.g. flood plain and mangrove restoration, green infrastructure to reduce heat stress, “sponge cities” approach), etc.

iv.  Climate, enhancing sustainability and improving the resilience of water infrastructures  to extreme weather events

v.  Early warning systems for all and Emergency response mechanisms, including preparedness plan and disaster scenario analysis,  to cope with water-related disasters, reduce people’s and infrastructure vulnerability and better prevent humanitarian/refugee crises and migration.

 

4.      Governance, Cooperation and Hydro-diplomacy   

Good water cooperation amongst global actors as well as sound governance within the water community and beyond, incl. governments, international organizations, think tanks, civil societies and other stake- holders, are vital to overcome the growing competition over water resources, improving mutual under- standing and identify acceptable trade-offs between all water users, including other sectors. Hydro-diplo- macy and international negotiations, notably based on legal instruments, are good means to foster peace mediation and conflict prevention.

Topics to be addressed during the upcoming World Water Forum, and requiring utmost political attention as we move closer to 2030, so as to achieve in particular SDGs 6 and 17 are the following:

i. Enhance international collaboration at all levels  (incl. multilateral, bilateral, North-South, South-South, North-North), transboundary and cross-border cooperation as appropriate on rivers, lakes, wetlands, small islands, and groundwater aquifers, etc.

ii.  Foster decentralized cooperation  between river basin commissions, regional entities, local authorities, local communities, corporate social responsibility, etc.

iii. Strengthen cross-sectoral dialogue and cooperation  (e. g. between water, energy, food, industrial and environmental sectors)

iv. Ensure active stakeholder involvement and public participation  (incl. from other sectors) in water management at all level

v.  Develop and enforce transparent and accountable institutions and legal frameworks,  and promote integrity and strengthen equity at all levels and amongst all players, incl. gender equality, youth involvement, and respect of minorities’ and local communities’ rights.

 

5.      Sustainable Water Finance

The lack of funding for water is another crucial issue to address, as millions of people throughout the world still suffer from insufficient access to clean water and sanitation, unreliable or unavailable water supply, and increased exposure to water-borne diseases and water-related disasters induced by climate change. Rapid urbanization creates additional challenges for water supply and sanitation in very densely populated areas, meanwhile leaving rural and natural areas behind. 

There is hence a need for more innovative, flexible, sustainable and efficient approaches to water financing, including enhanced public-private partnership. Topics to be addressed during the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, and highly relevant to the successful achievement of SDGs 1 and 6, are the following:

i.  Revisit the existing international water financing architecture by promoting a “new economics of water”  approach with an emphasis on transparency, accountability, fairness, and equity.

ii. Promote innovative and sustainable funding, financing, and delivery mechanisms  (guaranteed investment and water services pricing e.g. Blended finance, Payments for Ecosystem Services)

iii. Secure and increase funding for basic access to safe water and sanitation for all at all scales  as a human right, focusing on developing countries or fragile communities.

iv. Special schemes and incentives to promote green finance  (e.g, nature-based solutions, green infrastructures, ‘Green Water Credits’, Circular/Blue/Green, etc.)

v. Secure and Increase funding to prevent and overcome water-crisis, water disasters and enhance climate resilience  (e.g. Endowment Funds, Climate/Water Funds, Disaster Contingency Funds, etc.)

 

6.      Knowledge and Innovation  

Scientific progress and technological innovation are rapidly advancing in the water sector, with new tools, instruments and methodologies available. This wealth of knowledge, as well as traditional and indigenous know-how, needs to be shared, taught, made broadly available and scaled up to help address the growing water challenges the world community is facing.

As we move closer to 2030 and aim to successfully achieve SDGs 4 and 6, the following Topics could be addressed and receive the necessary attention at the 10th World Water Forum in Bali:

i. Promote Smart Water Management and  technological innovation(e.g. digital transformation, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence)

ii. Promote innovative organizational approaches  (e.g. new governance structures and mechanisms, policy measures, data, and information governance, data sharing, etc.) and strengthen the Science-to- policy interface on sustainable water resource management.

iii. Respect and value indigenous, traditional, and community-based knowledge systems and promote integration of their practices into existing water management policies

iv. Upscale water information systems  (Systematic Observation and database management, integrated monitoring and assessment of water resources - incl. ocean water, surface water, groundwater-, of water uses, of water service prices, performance assessment of water services and management plans, etc.)

v. Enhance access to education and training on water and 3H (hydrology-hydrometeorology- hydrogeology) , notably on new concepts (e.g. water as a global common good, environmental economics, atmospheric rivers, virtual water, water footprint, etc.)

 

WORKING GROUPS

The Thematic Process (TP) will be operated by the Thematic Process Commission (TPC).

Thematic Process Commission (TPC) will be a group making preliminary decisions on the thematic process before the ISC Bureau’s confirmation on major issues. TPC will have two co-leads, six sub-theme coordinators, one from each sub-theme. TPC will make or revise detailed plans to operate TP efficiently and review the proposals from the topic coordinators. TPC also supervises the overall operation of the topic and issue sessions. The WWC Thematic team and the 10th World Water Forum national secretariat will support TPC works.

*TPC composition: Two Co-leads, Six Sub-theme Coordinators, supported by the Thematic team from the WWC and from the National Forum secretariat

Sub-Theme Coordination Group: Each Sub-theme will be coordinated by the group of Topic coordinators. One sub-theme coordinator will be appointed in or outside the Topic Coordination Group at the beginning of the process to participate in the TPC meeting. He/she will coordinate and animate the topic coordination groups, prepare a sub-theme synthesis session per each sub-theme, advise potential High-level dialogues, and join in the meeting, interconnecting with the regional and political process.

*Sub-Theme Coordination Group: A Sub-Theme coordinator and Five topic coordinators per each sub-theme

Topic Coordination Group: Each topic will be guided by a group of people with specialties and sufficient experience in the topic. Among them, a Topic coordinator will be appointed by the topic group members and approved by the TPC. The topic coordinators, with their group members, will concretize and refine the topic concepts and develop detailed issues under each topic so that sessions will be focused on those issues that will be operated by the Session coordinator. Topic coordinators guide the session coordinators in this process and cooperate in developing a practical and efficient session. During the Forum week, topic coordinators will organize a topic synthesis session per one topic incorporating all issue sessions under the individual topic. After the Forum week, topic coordinators need to submit the result summary of the topic synthesis session incorporating different issues dealt with in each issue session under the topic to the 10th Forum national secretariat in one week after the Forum.

*Topic Coordination Group: A Coordinator and multiple specialists per each topic

Session Coordination Group: Session Coordinators, appointed by the Topic Coordination Group and approved by the TPC, will design and develop the session proposal and operate the session on-site during the Forum under the guidance of the topic coordination group. In the process of developing the session, session coordinators need to share the progress with topic coordinators so that topic coordinators can incorporate the results and core contents of each session into the topic session at the end of the forum week. Each session coordinator needs to submit a result summary of the session one week after the Forum to the 10th Forum national secretariat.

*Session Coordination Group: A Session Coordinator and multiple session organizers

TIMELINE

Date	Thematic Process
January 2023	·     Proposed first Draft of Thematic Framework
February 2023	·     Introduce the overall process and discuss ways to develop
March 2023	·     Discuss advanced framework
April 2023	·     Final Version of Thematic Framework
May 2023	·     Calls for Expression of Interest of all Working Group Members (Thematic Process Concept Note, TOR of Actors, Template) -      1st Week of May -  Approval of the Thematic Framework (ISC Bureau) -  Finalization of TOR, Template of call for interest -      2nd Week of May – Call for expression of interest
June 2023	·     Composition of Topic Coordination Group (TCG)
July 2023	·     Sub-Theme Coordinators Selected
September 2023	·     Sub-theme/ Topic Draft Concept Notes Submission ·     Draf list of session issues Submission by TCG
October 2023	·     2nd SCM (Oct 12-13)
November 2023	·     Sub-theme/ Topic Concept Notes Submission ·     Issue Session Coordinators Selected
January 2024	·     Issue Sessions Proposal Finalization
February 2024	·     Topic Synthesis Sessions Development ·     Sub-theme Sessions Development
May 2024	·     Continuous development of all sessions and deliverables ·     10th World Water Forum (May 18-24)
June 2024	·     Summary of Sub-theme, Topic, Issue Session Submission