2nd Istanbul International Water Forum

The 2^nd Istanbul International Water Forum will take place between May 3-5, 2011, at the Haliç Congress and Cultural Centre in Istanbul, Turkey, the same venue as the 5th World Water Forum.

In March 2009, the international water community gathered in Istanbul, Turkey, to engage in a multi-stakeholder dialogue and interaction to discuss and find sustainable solutions for the water-related challenges of the 21^st Century in the open and all-inclusive atmosphere of the 5^th World Water Forum. The event, diverse and unifying, brought political figures, water experts, scientists, businessmen, UN organizations and the civil society around the table and produced very important political and thematic outcomes that all serve to “bridge the divides for water”, in accordance with the Forum’s overarching theme. The great success of the 5^th World Water Forum made a remarkable impact across the global water community and reaffirmed Turkey’s pivotal role amongst the greatest nations of water. Turkey is determined to continue this synergy and preparing to welcome the international water community once again this May to the 2^nd Istanbul International Water Forum, organized in collaboration with the 5^th World Water Forum Secretariat.

The first gathering of the Istanbul International Water Forum was realized in February 2009 as a preparatory meeting one month prior to the 5^th World Water Forum and it was then planned to be organized every three years. This time, the 2^nd Istanbul International Water Forum is promising a broader field of study and a more diverse range of subjects. The Forum will primarily focus on the water-related problems of Middle East and North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. The domestic water-related problems (drought, floods etc.) of Turkey will also be discussed in detail. At this point, the 2^nd Istanbul International Water Forum will adopt a novel approach and shape the content of the Forum in accordance with the recommendations of the water experts in the focus regions. The Forum will provide a platform to bring together international organizations together with local experts with the aim to bring solutions to the water problems in question. The global water industry will also have a chance to present themselves at the Expo. The outcomes of the Forum will also provide valuable technical and intellectual input to the 6^th World Water Forum, which will be held in 2012 in Marseille, France.

The political outcome documents of the 5^th World Water Forum are of great value for the international water community as they provide guidance to shape the global water strategies and actions. The Istanbul Ministerial Statement and the accompanying Istanbul Water Guide, which were circulated as a UN General Assembly document (A/63/852), include critical recommendations and commitments on global water issues and successfully reflect the Forum’s thematic outcomes. The Istanbul Water Consensus, a new compact for local and regional authorities to prepare action plans to analyse and cope with the challenges, asks signatory cities to commit to developing water management strategies suitable to work towards the Millennium Development Goals and to address urbanization, climate change and other global pressures at local level. The Consensus is still open to signature. These and other political outcome documents of the 5^th World Water Forum are included in the Global Water Framework report, which can be accessed online at Global Water Framework report. The 2^nd Istanbul International Water Forum will also be an opportunity to revisit the Istanbul Water Consensus and Istanbul Water Guide.

The 2^nd Istanbul International Water Forum will be held at the Haliç Congress and Cultural Centre in Sütlüce, Istanbul. Registration is free of charge.

We encourage you to share this announcement with anyone you believe would be interested in attending the Forum.

Looking forward to meeting you in Istanbul this May!

Topics:

- Water-related problems in the Middle East and North Africa, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Turkey

- Follow-up of the political outcome documents of the 5th World Water Forum
(Istanbul Ministerial Statement, Istanbul Water Guide, Istanbul Water Consensus

Registration: Free

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The Thematic process of the 2nd Istanbul International Water Forum (IIWF), which will be held in Istanbul on 3-5 May 2011, was discussed in the internal group meetings on January 12 and January 20, 2011. Chaired by Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Mr. Mustafa ELDEMIR, the meetings were attended by the officials of the Ministry, The General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 5th World Water Forum Secretariat, water experts, the Faculty Members of Academic Coordinators, Administrative Coordinators, and also Assistant Secretaries of the Coordination groups.

In the thematic process, sessions are planned considering the keynote and potential speakers from Turkey and from the regions of Central Asia, Eastern Europe and MENA; from the International Organizations as well.

Thematic process is being developed for the area including Turkey and regions around Turkey. Accordingly, there are six main topics in the thematic process.

Participants may send their messages, opinions, contributions, abstracts regarding the following themes by clicking theme headlines and using the form opened.