Information from APWF

The 3rd Governing Council Meeting of the Asia Pacific Water Forum

2008-08-15T05:44:26Z

　» Highlights(PDF58KB)

1.Date &Time : 10:00-17:00, 23 June 2008
2.Venue : Suntec Singapore International Convention Centre, Meeting Room 208
3.Organizer : Secretariat of Asia-Pacific Water Forum

4.Agenda　　» Agenda (PDF17KB)

]]> 1. Chairmanship of the Meeting
　The meeting shall be chaired by the Chair of the Governing Council of the APWF, Prof. Tommy Koh.

10:00 – 13:00
2. Adoption of the agenda
　The provisional agenda of the meeting will be considered for adoption.

3. Announcement and Roadmap towards the 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit: Vision and Strategy
　Announcement of the 2nd APWS shall be made by the Chair.
　Roadmap towards the 2nd APWS shall be presented by the Secretariat.

(11:15-11:30 - Coffee Break)

4. Follow-up of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit
　The follow-up activities of concrete initiatives announced in the Policy Brief 2007 and at the1st APWS shall be presented by the all Lead Organizations and implementing organizations, namely ADB, JICA / JBIC, ICHARM, ICIMOD, SOPAC, FAO, PUB / UNESCO, UN-HABITAT / SOK, JWF(APWM, Sanimap, ABU), UNESCAP, GWP CACENA, Asia Society and others if any.

(13:00-14:00 - Lunch Break)

14:00 – 17:00
(Continued discussion on follow-up of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit)

(15:45-16:00 - Coffee Break)

5. Schedule of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum in 2008-2009
　Schedule of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum in 2008-2009 shall be presented by the Secretariat.
　(i) Singapore International Water Week 2008, Singapore, 23-27 June 2008
　(ii) World Water Week, Stockholm, 17-23 August 2008
　(iii) 5th World Water Forum, Istanbul, 15-22 March 2009

6. Other matters
　Any topic of relevance to the APWF may be raised under this item (Time permitting).

7. Closing of the session

The First Asia-Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 5th World Water Forum

2008-07-26T02:25:58Z

in Singapore on Friday, June 27, 2008
on the occasion of the Singapore International Water Week 2008

» Final Minutes

1. Date and time: From 9:00 to 12:00 on Friday, June 27, 2008
2. Venue: Learning Oasis Room in WaterHub, 80 & 82 Toh Guan Road East

3. Organizers:
Asia-Pacific Water Forum (Japan Water Forum as Secretariat)
Secretariat of the 5th World Water Forum
World Water Council

4. Objectives:
- to discuss how to coordinate the regional inputs to themes and topics of the 5th World Water Forum
- to identify 5 sub-regional preparatory meetings at which the discussions on sub-regional inputs would be discussed

]]> 5. Agenda:
9:00-9:05 Opening

Presentation on the 5th World Water Forum
9:05-9:15 - Mr. Paul Reiter, Co-chair of the Programme Committee of 5th World Water Forum
9:15-9:25 - Prof. Zekai Şen, Representative of the Mayor of Istanbul

9:25-9:35 Proposed regional process in the Asia-Pacific region towards the 5th World Water Forum / Mr. Hikaru Shoji, Chief Officer, Japan Water Forum
9:35-9:50 Q&A

9:50-10:30 Short presentations by participating thematic/topic coordinators of the 5th World Water Forum (5 minutes/theme or topic: Topic 1.3 / Topic 2.3 / Topic 2.4 / Topic 3.3 / Theme 4 / Theme 6)
10:30-10:40 Q&A

10:40-10:55 Coffee Break

10:55-11:20 Short presentations on sub-regional focuses to the themes and topics of the 5th World Water Forum
(5 minutes/sub-region: Northeast Asia / Southeast Asia / South Asia / Central Asia / Oceania & Pacific)

11:30-12:00 Discussions on possible contributions from other participants, future schedule and next steps
12:00 Closing

CSD16 Side Event - Water and Sanitation: Message to G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit

2008-05-08T12:44:30Z

To gain significant momentum towards the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit and
support the Government of Japan's strong stand on water and sanitation
issues, a side-event at the Commission for Sustainable Development convened
participants of the 16th Commission for Sustainable Development at the
United Nations in New York City, for an exchange of views on the "Water and
Sanitation: Message to G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit."

The side-event was co-organized by Japan Water Forum, Asia-Pacific Water Forum, Asia Society, UNICEF, UNSGAB and WaterAid, and supported by the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations. A keynote address was delivered by Dr. Takahiro Shinyo, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary / Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations.

The Japan Water Forum presented the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit focusing on its political impact, and WaterAid presented the "Major Groups' Message on Water and Sanitation to the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit."

A panel discussion, facilitated by Ms. Margaret Catley-Carlson, Member of UNSGAB / Former Chair of Global Water Partnership, followed with the representatives from the co-organizers of the event.

Organizers: Japan Water Forum, Asia-Pacific Water Forum, Asia Society, UNICEF,
UN Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB), WaterAid
Supported by: Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

VENUE: UN Delegates Room, Private Dining Room West Terrace (4th floor) in NY.
WHEN? Monday, May 12th 2008, 13:15 to 14:45.
ATTRACTIONS: We invite the participating CSD Participants for a light luncheon

]]>

13:15-13:30
Greetings and presentation on the Japanese Government's activities in the water and sanitation sector
Dr. Takahiro Shinyo, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary / Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations

13:30-13:40
Presentation on the outcome of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit: focusing on its political impact by Ms. Taeko Yokota, Chief Programme Officer, Japan Water Forum

13:40-13:50
Presentation on the "Major Groups' Message on Water and Sanitation to the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit" by Mr. Oliver Cumming, Policy Officer, Sanitation & Environment, WaterAid

13:50-14:45
Interactive Panel on "Water and Sanitation: Message to G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit"
Panelists
- Ms. Suzanne DiMaggio, Director, Asian Social Issues Program, Asia Society
- Mr. Peregrine Swann, Senior Water Advisor, DFID
- Ms. Noriko Yamaguchi, Chief Officer, Japan Water Forum
- Ms. Clarissa Brocklehurst, Chief, Water and Environmental Sanitation, UNICEF
- Mr. Oliver Cumming, Policy Officer, Sanitation & Environment, WaterAid

Facilitator
- Ms. Margaret Catley-Carlson, Member of UNSGAB / Former Chair of Global Water Partnership

14:45 Closing

Impact of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit

2008-02-22T12:42:40Z

Speech by H. E. Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, at the Water and Sanitation Symposium, "The International Year of Sanitation - A Platform for Action in Africa and Asia"

(Feb 22, 2008)

Dialogue between the CSOs/NGOs and Participants of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit (1st APWS)

2007-11-27T15:02:12Z

Date and Time:
From 13:30 to 16:20 on Monday, December 2nd

Venue:
Suginoi Hotel Room "Kankai" (7th Floor of the Main Building)
1 Kankaiji Beppu, Oita, Japan Tel: +81(0)977-24-1161

Co-organized by:
Organizing Committee of Peoples' Forum on Asia-Pacific Water Summit
Secretariat of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit

Language:
English and Japanese (with simultaneous interpretation)

Expected participants:
Civil society organizations, NGOs and participants of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit

]]> The 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit (APWS) will be an unprecedented opportunity for the leaders of the region, including heads of government, to exchange intensely on the region's urgent water and sanitation issues. It is expected that the leaders will realize and reaffirm the significance of the water issues through the 1st APWS, so as to exert commitment and leadership for water security in the region.
To ensure full political discourse among the heads of governments and high level officials, the participation of the CSOs and NGOs has been limited in the 1st APWS. In parallel to the Summit, the Secretariat of the 1st APWS is hosting a series of "Open Events", to which all stakeholders are invited to facilitate their involvement in the water discussions. Messages emanating from the "Open Events" will be conveyed to the participants of the 1st APWS.
This proposed Dialogue event is an additional chance for the stakeholders to engage with the participants of the 1st APWS. The topic of the Dialogue will be the recommendations from the CSOs and NGOs, to be addressed to the country representatives of the 1st APWS.
It is anticipated that this Dialogue will facilitate mutual communication and collaboration between all stakeholders in the region for the resolution of water issues.

Draft agenda
13:30-13:40 Opening remarks
13:40-14:40　Priority Theme C
14:40-15:25　Priority Theme B
15:25-15:35　Break
15:35-16:20　Priority Theme A

PRESS RELEASE: Announcement of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit

2007-10-26T06:59:21Z

Water Security: Leadership and Commitment

The 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit (1st APWS) will be held in Beppu, Oita prefecture, on December 3 and 4, 2007, with top-level decision-makers participation from the Asia-Pacific region.

"The fact is that, at present, in Asia and the Pacific, 700 million of our citizens do not have access to safe drinking water, the region suffers disproportionately from water-related disasters and degraded land-water ecosystems significantly threaten water productivity. We can turn the situation around if we can agree to make water a high priority in our development plans, if we can improve governance, if we mobilize and allocate more financial resources to water infrastructure and if we acknowledge that the access to safe drinking water is a basic human right of our people." – Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, Chair, Steering Committee of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit.

»Read all(PDF, 58KB)

PRESS RELEASE: On the Way to the 1st Asia Pacific Water Summit

2007-10-25T04:42:26Z

Remarks by Mrs. Margaret Catley-Carlson (Chair, Global Water Partnership & Steering Committee member, 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit) and Dr. Frank R. Rijsberman (Director, Water and Climate Adaptation Initiatives, Google.org)

Kyoto, Japan
8 October 2007

» Download file(PDF, 57KB)

Upload: 2nd Draft Priority Theme Recommendation

2007-10-18T08:10:09Z

The secretariat is pleased to announce the upload of the 2nd Draft Recommendations of each Priority Theme.
APWF will combine 2nd Draft Recommendations of each Priority Theme and Key Result Area into a draft "Policy Brief 2007" to be reported by APWF at 1st Asia-Pacifc Water Summit.
APWF Working Group meeting on draft Policy Brief will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the occasion of the Southeast Asia Water Forum(Oct 21-25). APWF will finalize Policy Brief 2007 by November 16th

» Theme A : Water Financing
» Theme B : Water-related Disaster Management
» Theme C : Water for Development & Ecosystems

Notes of 2nd Steering Committee Meeting and Programme Meeting for 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit

2007-10-12T13:30:32Z

Venue: ANA Intercontinental Hotel, Japan

The 2nd APWS SC meeting was held in Tokyo on 6 Aug 2007. The meeting was
chaired by former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr Yoshiro Mori who is the President of the Japan Water Forum as well as the President of the Asia Pacific Water Forum (APWF). Mr Mori chaired the morning segment of the meeting attended by 16 SC members, 13 special participants and 122 observers. Mr. Ravi Narayanan chaired the Programme Meeting in the afternoon. The secretariat of the meeting was the Japan Water Forum. Representatives from the diplomatic community in Japan, affiliated agencies, and the media were invited as observers. Government officials attended from 35 countries; Afghanistan, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Korea, Kyrgyz, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu and Uzbekistan.

» Notes of 2nd Steering Committee Meeting and Programme Meeting (PDF, 41KB)

Let’s discuss for making the policy recommendation to be announced in the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit (1st Draft Outline of Policy Recommendation)

2007-09-13T02:03:58Z

The lead organizations of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) are currently preparing the policy recommendation which will be announced in the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit, considering the discussions submitted to the Weblog (comments, opinions, suggestions, good practice, etc.).

Reflecting on the discussions in the 2nd APWF Governing Council Meeting on July 12-13, the 1st draft outline of the policy recommendation was submitted to the Governing Council member and is available on the APWF Weblog (as below).

Theme A : Water Financing
Theme B : Water-related Disaster Management
Theme C : Water for Development & Ecosystems

We welcome your active participation in the APWF Weblog discussion!

Special Symposium "Climate Change and Water" - Towards the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit and Beyond -

2007-09-10T12:59:16Z

1. General Description
(1) Date & Time
7th August, 2007, 10:00-12:30
(2) Venue
JETRO Headquarters Tokyo, Ark Mori Building, 5F
(3) Organizer
Japan Water Forum
(4) Partner
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
(5) Number of Participants
115
(6) Language
Japanese/English (Simultaneous Interpretation)

]]> 2. Program

10:00-10:05	Opening Mr. Yoshiro Mori, Chair of the Steering Committee of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit / President of the Japan Water Forum
10:05-10:25	Key Note Lecture "The Challenge of Climate Change and Water Issues - with Particular Reference to the Asia-Pacific Region -" Dr. Han Seung-soo, President of Korea Water Forum / Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Climate Change / President, 56th Session of the UN General Assembly
10:25-10:40	Coffee Break
10:40-12:25	Panel discussion "Climate Change and Water" Panelists (alphabetic order) Ms. Margaret Catley-Carlson, Chair of Global Water Partnership Mr. Loïc FAUCHON, President of World Water Council - Speech Manuscript (PDF, 65 KB) Dr. James Horne, Deputy Secretary, Department of the Environment and Water Resources, Australia Dr. Kotaro Takemura, Secretary General, Japan Water Forum - Presentation Material (PDF, 2,578 KB) Mr. Michio Tanahashi, Director General, Water Resources Department, Land and Water Bureau, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport - Presentation Material (PDF, 303 KB) Facilitator Mr. Yoshinori Imai, Executive Editor, NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation
12:25-12:30	Closing Mr. Hideaki Oda, Councillor to the President of the Japan Water Forum

» CVs of Speakers/panelists/Facilitator （PDF, 101KB）
» Summary of Panel Discussion （PDF, 119KB）

Press Release: 2nd SC Meeting of the 1st APWS

2007-08-15T20:53:15Z

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9 August 2007

An Agenda for the 2008 G8 Summit in Japan:
Asia and the Pacific’s Water Distress

World’s Leading Authorities Weigh In:
Need to Make Water and Sanitation Issues the Region’s Priority

Water and sanitation problems still figure desperately low in many of the region’s national priorities, with millions still underserved and at great cost to several of the region’s national economies. This is the brunt of the message that some of the world’s leading authorities on water delivered in Tokyo earlier this week, while attending the 2nd Steering Committee meeting of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit. This group of eminent people are inviting the region’s political leaders to the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit (to be held in Beppu, Japan, 3-4 December 2007), making the bid to commit the highest spheres of the region’s political arena to discuss these issues together, in a significant event in the lead-up to next year’s G8 Summit.

]]>
Former Prime Minister of Japan Yoshiro Mori (President, Asia-Pacific Water Forum), who chaired the meeting, stated that, “national governments have been too insensitive to the need to develop their water resource management systems.”

Water supply, sanitation, water-related disaster prevention, pollution – all have technical solutions but lack the strong political will required to tackle them. “Water problems can be managed,” highlighted Dr. Han Seung-Soo (President of Korea Water Forum / Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Climate Change). And Mr. Saif-ud-Din Soz (Minister of Water Resources of India) to add, “the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit can create the political climate needed for the adoption of practical solutions.” The water and sanitation challenge requires “concerted efforts by the [region’s] stakeholders, including its Governments, its civil societies, and all development partners,” Mr. Liqun Jin (Vice President, Asian Development Bank) said. And Mr. Kyosuke Shinozawa (Governor, Japan Bank for International Cooperation) confirmed JBIC’s ongoing support for enforced financing of the water sector.

The Asian continent supports 60% of the world’s population with only 36% of the world’s water resources and despite great strides in economic growth in some countries, the region still accounts for an inordinate proportion of suffering, with some 655 million people still without safe drinking water, 1.9 billion without access to basic water sanitation, and with some 80% of the world’s total deaths due to water-related disasters (for the period 2001-2005).

The Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) is working to increase the region’s access to
improved water supplies and sanitation, protect and restore river basins, and reduce people’s vulnerability to water disasters. The APWF champions efforts aimed at boosting investments, building capacity, increasing public outreach and enhancing cooperation in the water sector at the regional level.

Contact: Asia-Pacific Water Forum Secretariat , c/o Japan Water Forum (JWF)
5th Floor, 1-8-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo 102-0083
Tel: 03-5212-1645, www.apwf.org Attn: Taeko Yokota / Noriko Yamaguchi

1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit - Call for "2nd" Application to Host an Open Event

2007-08-09T07:36:43Z

The 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit (APWS) will be held in Beppu city, Oita prefecture, on December 3 and 4, 2007. Water issues are not limited to a particular area such as the fields of environment, agriculture, industry, or development, but are fundamental for human security and all nations' long-term social and economic well-being. In order to address these issues, a visionary leadership is required at the national level. For this reason, the participation in the 1st APWS is limited to political leaders and representatives of the relevant sectors from the Asia-Pacific region.

At the same time, however, it is also crucial to raise public awareness among the Asia-Pacific region's citizens while providing a forum for sharing information, in order to solve various water issues in the region. Therefore, we would welcome your hosting an "Open Event", which will be held during the time period of the 1st APWS and open to a range of people and actors from the region. At Open Events, it is hoped that you will offer practical suggestions and solutions to water issues in the region.

1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit (APWS) "2nd" Application Procedure to Host an Open Event » Download (PDF, 178KB)
Rules and Procedures for Approval of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit Open Events Applications » Download (PDF, 58KB)
1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit Open Event Application Form (Form 1) » Download (WORD, 91KB)
1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit Open Event Logistical Assistance Application Form (Form 2) » Download (WORD, 90KB)

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1) Outline of Open Events
Dates: December 1 (Sat.) to 5 (Wed.), 2007
Venue: Throughout Japan
Event Formats : Conventions, exhibitions, excursions, concerts, etc.

2) Eligibility
Open Events should be in line with the character and purpose of the 1st APWS. For details, please refer to the "Rules and Procedures for Approval of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit Open Events Applications."
Please note that the 1st APWS Open Event Secretariat reserves the right to reject any Open Event application that does not meet the criteria of the 1st APWS Open Event.

3) Deadline for 2nd Applications
September 14 (Fri.), 2007

4) Provisional Schedule of the 2nd Application
September 14, 2007 Deadline for 2nd application
September 31, 2007 Announcement of Open Event approvals
October 2007 Web launch of the list of Open Events
October 2007 Further arrangements on hosting Open Events will be announced

[Application forms and any inquires regarding Open Events should be sent to:]
The 1st APWS Open Event Secretariat
c/o Convention Linkage, Inc.
KS Building, 2 Sanbancho, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 102-0075 Japan
Attn: Ms. Rokugawa and Ms. Terao
TEL：+81-(0)3-3263-8695　　　　　　FAX：+81-(0)3-3263-8693
E-mail: openevent@waterforum.jp

Media Advisory

2007-07-31T14:18:26Z

» Special Symposium on Climate Change and Water (Tuesday, 7 August 2007)
» Asia-Pacific Water Summit: 2nd Steering Committee Meeting (Monday, 6 August 2007)

Professor Tommy Koh Chairs the 2nd Asia Pacific Water Forum (APWF) Governing Council Meeting in Singapore (12-13 July 2007)

2007-07-25T16:20:50Z

Over two days (12-13 Jul 07), Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large of Singapore, chaired the Asia Pacific Water Forum’s (APWF) 2nd Governing Council meeting at Waterhub, Singapore’s Public Utilities Board centre for technology, learning and networking. Attended by senior specialists from the four corners of the region, the meeting convened the lead organizations of the APWF, such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), ICHARM, The World Conservation Union (IUCN), FAO, PUB, UNESCO, UNESCAP, UN-HABITAT, Japan Water Forum, Korea Water Forum, Streams of Knowledge and the Global Water Partnership.
» Read more (PDF, 139KB)