From May 18th to 25th, in Bali, Indonesia, it will be held the tenth edition of the World Water Forum, the most important international event in the water sector, which brings together authorities, the scientific community, businesses and civil society to discuss the global water’challenges. Italy participates in the event with a pavilion that will host numerous and qualified contributions coordinated by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS): the presence of 4 foreign offices (Hanoi, Tunis, Cairo, Maputo), institutional subjects actively involved on the topic (Water Museum Global Network – UNESCO, CIHEAM Bari, One Water Italian Committee) and private companies (Acea, Acquedotto Pugliese, Veragon) testifies to the attention dedicated to the water resource in its various forms. The Italian delegation, led by prof. Francesco Corvaro, Special Envoy for the climate of the Italian Government, will take part in the Forum board and will intervene with numerous events designed with the aim of providing an overall and inter-sectoral perspective. “Water is synonymous with life but ongoing climate changes are increasingly jeopardizing its availability in some areas of the world and its management in others. It is an increasingly precious resource, which in addition to being necessary for human life, can also become a vehicle of peace and unity in a world increasingly characterized by conflicts,” are the words of Professor Francesco Corvaro.
The opening of the event is expected on May 20th, with the official inauguration of the Pavilion in the presence of the Italian Ambassador to Indonesia, Benedetto Latteri, and the Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Marco Riccardo Rusconi. This will be followed by the presentation of the UNESCO installation project “The Voices of the Water”, an immersive experience that aims to enhance the role of water in the history of humanity and as a source of inspiration for sustainable resource management with a view to an ecological transition. On Tuesday May 21st the day will be animated by a first meeting organized by CIHEAM Bari on the theme of water diplomacy and the training of future ruling classes. The following appointment, organized by One Water Italian Committee, focuses on the role of cooperation in the Mediterranean area. The AICS Maputo headquarters will bear witness to the management of water resources in less developed countries. The third day, Wednesday May 22nd, will continue with the presentation of the projects carried out by two foreign offices of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation: AICS Hanoi will focus on the development of strategies and assessment of challenges in the field of water security in Vietnam, AICS Cairo will talk about the commitment aimed at greater efficiency in water management in the Nile Valley. The last seminar will be curated by Acquedotto Pugliese, which will bring its best practices and activities at an international level to the public’s attention. On Thursday May 23rd the panel program will close with the contribution of the Veragon company and a meeting organized by AICS Tunisi on technologies and innovation in the water sector in Tunisia, Libya and Morocco.
The commitment of the Italian development cooperation system has been concentrated for the majority of investments in African and Asian countries, including the Middle East. An operational approach that is divided into actions aimed at guaranteeing the supply to beneficiary populations in emergency situations and intervening for water safety and Water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), with an integrated and multi-sectoral perspective, as in the case of Smart Climate – Sustainable Malawian Agriculture, implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, to improve resilience to climate change: the project currently being implemented in Malawi, in the districts of Karonga and Nkhotakota promotes changes at individual, community and institutional levels by improving knowledge techniques of target groups in various sectors, including conservation agriculture techniques, improvement of nutritional practices, irrigation systems, farm management, use of weather-climate information and disaster risk reduction strategies.
“Italy has developed a long tradition in the conservation and management of water resources, and, thanks to an ever-increasing awareness of civil society and national stakeholders on the issue of water, it has a clear role as a leading country in the water sector.” – declares Marco Riccardo Rusconi, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. “The actions that the Italian Cooperation carries out are in line with the Mattei Plan, which sees water among its axes, with investments in maintenance, distribution and awareness-raising”.
