The European Union at the 9th World Water Forum
date: 31/05/2022
The 9th World Water Forum took place in Dakar, Senegal, in March, with the theme ‘Water Security for Peace and Development’. Hosted for the first time in sub-Saharan Africa, it welcomed over 5 000 participants, including Heads of State, Ministers, institutional authorities, representatives of development banks and members of the scientific community, civil society organisations and the private sector.
His Excellency Macky Sall, President of Senegal and Chairperson of the African Union, opened the Forum with a Heads of State segment. The Presidents of Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania were present, along with the Vice President of The Gambia, the President of the World Bank and the Director General of UNESCO.
In her speech recorded for the opening ceremony, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the overarching role played by water on the sustainable agenda: ‘This is not just a sectoral conference. Because water is about our climate and nature, our energy sources, our health and our food supplies. It is about the cities we live in, the security of our regions, and the equality of our societies.’
Senegal presented the Dakar Declaration in the perspective of the UN 2023 Water Conference, calling stakeholders to guarantee the right to water and sanitation, to ensure water resources’ availability and appropriate financing, and to implement inclusive water governance with strong cooperation frameworks.
Focus on transboundary water cooperation
Specific attention was given in the Forum to transboundary water cooperation. The Senegal River Basin Development Organisation (OMVS), long supported by the EU, was awarded the King Hassan II Prize, recognising its role in promoting water security in the region.
DG INTPA Deputy Director-General Marjeta Jager announced a new Team Europe Initiative (TEI) to support transboundary water management in Africa with the African Union Commission. Members of the African Ministers’ Council on Water and African Network of Basin Organisations warmly welcomed the TEI’s objectives to support development and regional integration through water cooperation. France, Germany, Belgium and Denmark participated and showed bold ambitions in harmonising European support to transboundary basin organisations.
Fostering the participation of youth and civil society
The EU Delegation and Headquarters co-organised a series of sessions mobilising youth and an exchange of views between young professionals and EU water companies. The EU also supported the Butterfly Effect, a network of more than 200 water NGOs that promotes multilateralism, political will, involvement of civil society organisations, governance and transparent finance.
The EU organised a special session to present its range of water partnerships in Africa and intervened in sessions on the water-energy-food nexus, water and humanitarian development, water investments, water cooperation in Central Asia, and preparations for the UN 2023 Water Conference.
Looking ahead
Participation in the Forum helped to highlight the EU’s five priority areas:
- Strengthening water governance at all levels
- WASH and the human right to water and sanitation
- Water, climate and energy
- Water for food security and nature
- Financing and policy tools.
Read more about the Forum here: