IHP releases new brochure on 7th Phase

The new phase of IHP (2008-2013) will continue to promote and lead international hydrological research, facilitate education and capacity development, and enhance governance in water resources management. The aim of these efforts is to help meet the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on environmental sustainability, water supply, sanitation, food security and poverty alleviation, and contribute to the objectives of the International Decade for Action "Water for Life" (2005-2015).

The Strategic Plan for IHP's VIIth Phase was formulated by a task force of experts with inputs received by the IHP National Committees on their thematic priorities. The structure is set out in seven sections:

1. Establishing the baseline conditions for IHP – Three decades of hydrology
2. Assessment of the coming decade – Hydrology for environmental sustainability
3. Setting the targets for IHP Phase VII – Water, central to global ecosystems
4. Transition from Phase VI to Phase VII – Continuity with change
5. Making IHP-VII action-oriented and policy relevant – Support to the global agenda
6. The themes and focal areas of Phase VII
7. The next steps

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Prof. Szöllösi-Nagy gives inaugural speech as Rector of UNESCO-IHE

Professor Szöllösi-Nagy told the audience that consultancy assignments in developing countries were a big eye opener for him. He explains: "It was then, that I realised the obvious: it is water that needs to be fixed, otherwise developing countries and countries in transition will never have the chance to achieve what we now call sustainable development.

This obvious realisation made me join the UN, more precisely UNESCO, where I served for 20 years and nine days as the Secretary of the International Hydrological Programme and the Director of the Division of Water Sciences.

I also realised that without international cooperation and development, assistance in policy setting, education and building local water management and science capacities in the third world, as it was called back in the day, it would not be possible to ever build a fair and equitable world."

He continues saying that he firmly believes water education is the key to solve water issues on a thirsty planet. "I would like to lead UNESCO-IHE to further improve its capabilities and capacities to help the needy."

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Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2010: Call for Nominations

Singapore International Water Week is calling for nominations for the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2010.

The Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize is an international award that recognises outstanding contributions towards solving global water problems. This can be done through applying groundbreaking technologies or implementing innovative policies and programmes, which benefit humanity.

The Water Prize is named after Singapore's first Prime Minister and present Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who through his foresight and leadership, has enabled Singapore to attain a sustainable supply of water.

The Water Prize will be the highlight of the Singapore International Water Week 2010, which includes Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo and Business Forums. The winner will receive S$300,000, a gold medallion and an award certificate.

Official nomination form and other additional details.

All nominations for the Water Prize 2009 must be submitted to the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Secretariat by 31 Oct 2009. Should you require any clarifications, please contact the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Secretariat at info@siww.com.sg and leekuanyewwaterprize@siww.com.sg.

"NATO Advanced Research Workshop": Call for Applications

The Call for Application for the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "International Regulation Implementation for Environmental Security in South-Eastern Europe (SEE)" is now open.

The 3-day Advanced Research Workshop will be held from December 3 to December 5, 2009 at the Venice International University, on the Island of S. Servolo, Venice, Italy.

The Advanced Research Workshop is meant to gather public officials and policy makers from SEE countries as well as experts on international regulation implementation and environmental security, both from NATO and non-NATO Members, in order to make a critical assessment of existing knowledge on new important topics, and identify directions for future research. The workshop will be an opportunity for UNESCO's PCCP programme to present the activities it has undertaken in South East Europe.

For application and any further information, please contact ilda.mannino@univiu.org.

Final Report: "Strengthening Water Governance for Sustainability"

On 24-26 June 2009, the HELP programme (Hydrology for the Environment, Life and Policy) held the seminar "Strengthening Water Governance for Sustainability" in Évora, Portugal, with a focus on the Guadiana River.

Some of the major conclusions that were drawn from the seminar were that:

1. there needs to be better understanding and knowledge to achieve better communication between scientists and stakeholders and
2. scientific results from research must be shared and provided to society and stakeholders to help support a better future for water.

Also, the ongoing water planning process, ruled by the Water Framework Directive (WFD), must achieve sustainable development, but allowing that rivers can keep their natural or base characteristics, especially in rural areas (e.g., Guadiana river) and that the Water Basin Plans of the WFD must be like their "Constitutions" (Supreme Laws). The exchange of experiences from different parts of the World must be also promoted, improved and supported in order to strengthen water governance.

Several experiences were presented in the 4 sessions of the seminar dealing with many aspects and issues directly related with the management of water resources and the discussions were very helpful for the ongoing water planning process in the Alentejo region.

There is a pressing need to highlight the presence of the major Water Resources Administrations in the Guadiana Basin (Portugal and Spain, and also two other representatives from other basins Algarve and Tagus). One of the main goals of this HELP Seminar was achieved: To join together many people with many experiences in water issues, from different parts of the world, that certainly will help regional/national water planning and management processes and water governance.

Final report.

4th International Yellow River Forum to be held in October

The 4th International Yellow River Forum (IYRF) will be held in Zhengzhou on 20-23 October 2009. The main theme of the 4th IYRF has been set as "Ecological Civilization and River Ethics". It is aimed to review and rebuild the relationship between human being and rivers, to improve the awareness of river protection and conservation. Moreover, the forum is held to advocate enhanced measures to protect rivers, along with public engagement for the harmonious coexistence between human being and rivers.

Focusing on the main theme, the 4th IYRF will be organized with 10 technical sessions, 15 special sessions on inter-governmental cooperation or jointly organized by international organizations. Among others, a UNESCO special session would also be held during the forum, with a focus on impacts of climate change in the Yellow River Basin. The forum will also witness the signature of MOUs on international cooperation and the launching of new cooperation projects.

Nearly a thousand registration forms have been submitted to the organizing committee of the 4th IYRF. Delegates are experts in a variety of professional areas ranging from water resources, river basin management to social science and humanities, coming from over 60 countries including America, Mexico, Australia, Egypt, India, Japan and European Union member countries. The international participation will further strengthen the role of the forum to deepen mutual understandings, improve cooperation, discussions and communication. Furthermore, Minister of Water Resources of China, Minister of Water Resources of Singapore, Ambassador of the Delegation of European Committee to China, Australian Ambassador to China, State secretary of Ministry of Environment and Water of Hungary, well-known senior management staff of many international organizations and presidents or directors from river basin agencies of Rhine, Danube, Rhone, Murray-Darling and other rivers will present during the 4th Forum.

Please contact Mr. SUN Yangbo for further details, and refer to the following links for detailed information:

• 4th International Yellow River Forum
• 3rd bulletin of the 4th International Yellow River Forum

Final Report: Workshop on 'Sediment Problems and Sediment Management in Asian River Basins'

This 2-day workshop formed part of the Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) and the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), which took place in Hyderabad, India from September 7th to September 11th, 2009. The workshop was a joint venture between the International Commission on Continental Erosion (ICCE) of IAHS and the UNESCO International Sediment Initiative (ISI). It was also co-sponsored by the World Association for Sedimentation and Erosion Research (WASER). The involvement of the UNESCO ISI was particularly important, because UNESCO provided funds to support the attendance of several invited speakers, who presented overview papers relating to sediment problems in their home countries or local regions. Dr Bhanu Neupane from the UNESCO Regional Office in New Delhi provided valuable support to the workshop, in making travel and accommodation arrangements for several of the invited speakers. Manfred Spreafico, Des Walling and Valentin Golosov attended the Hyderabad Assembly and were able to represent the ISI Steering Committee.

Read the full report.

Access a complete list of water events around the world

Arsenic in Groundwater: A World Problem

© 2008 Netherlands National Committee of the IAH, Editor: T. Appelo, Production: J.P. Heederik

The various contributions dealing with, among others, occurrence and causes of arsenic contamination and its affects on health and food production, give a clear and broad insight into the state-of-the-art knowledge of all aspects of arsenic in groundwater. The publication No. 5 Arsenic in Groundwater – a World Problem presents the arsenic problem in such a way that it becomes accessible to a broad and involved public that normally might not have access to scientific literature; giving this publication a rather unique status among the extensive list of existing literature on this subject.

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• Every $1 invested in improved water supply and sanitation yields gains, on average, of $4-$12, depending on the type of intervention.
• Almost one-tenth of the global disease burden could be prevented by improving water supply, sanitation, hygiene and management of water resources. Such improvements reduce child mortality and improve health and nutritional status in a sustainable way.
• In 2000 diarrhoea accounted for 17% of the 10.6 million deaths in children younger than five, and malaria for 8%.
• Some 1.4 million children die each year from preventable diarrhoeal diseases. Ordinary diarrhoea remains the major killer among water-, sanitation- and hygiene-related diseases, contributing to 43% of deaths. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are the most affected regions.
• Undernutrition is an underlying cause of 53% of all deaths in children younger than five.

The section "Did You Know…?" is taken from the 3rd World Water Development Report "Water in a Changing World".

- International Hydrological Programme
- World Water Assessment Programme
- UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
- Water-related Institutes and Centres under the Auspices of UNESCO
- UNESCO Water-related Chairs

Access the UNESCO Water e-Newsletter archives (starting at issue Nº 85)

For contributions or comments, contact the editor at waterportal@unesco.org