From 2002-03-14 to 2002-03-16

Venue: Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Summary:
Over half of the global population is projected to live in urban areas by year 2007 and this number is increasing at an unprecedented pace, especially in developing countries. More than one billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water while 2.4 billion do not have elementary sanitation. This situation is likely to worsen in the coming decades due to looming water crises, possible adverse effects of land use and climate changes and variations. Urban water is becoming a burning issue at a global scale. The world is not prepared to handle the forthcoming unpredictable interaction of problems that include a variety of technical, environmental, social, economic and sustainable development issues, several of which are linked to the globalization process. There is an evident lack of expertise, institutional and legal frameworks across the globe with the capability of identifying and applying the appropriate approaches by which the problems can be tackled at the source.

Several important international events call for significant change of attitude of international community by switching from verbal appeals to concrete actions. Based on the recommendations of The Hague Ministerial Conference (March, 2000), the Marseille Statement (June 2001) and the Teheran Regional Consultation (May 2001), UNESCO is initiating an international donor’s conference that is planned to be held in Cairo in May 2002 [date and place to be confirmed]. The aim of the conference is to adopt a consolidated programme of research, development, training and technology transfer actions with a view to obtaining the commitment of international donors willing to contribute to the mobilization of the international scientific and professional community in identifying the problems and finding solutions to urban water-related issues and ravaged urban water services, such as in Afghanistan. The Belgrade event is tailored to provide quality preparations for the Donors Conference and to support the reactivation of the international network of centres dealing with urban water management including (IRTCUD - Urban Drainage network).

The goals of the event are:
1. Reactivation and strengthening of the IRTCUD / CUW global network.
2. Initiation of the creation of regional IRTCUD/CUW networks.
3. Collection, screening and discussion on projects proposals on urban water research as a part of preparations for the Donors Conference.
4. Preparation of the draft document for the Donors Conference on Urban Water and adoption of an action plan
5. Further elaboration of a detailed action.

Organizers: UNESCO and IRTCUD (International Research and Training Centers for Urban Drainage and CUW Network Centers for Urban Water Management)
Contact Name: A. Mijic
E-mail: amijic@hikom.grf.bg.ac.yu
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