IV. Preparatory and special events
Special sessions and side-events
The Conference special events and side-events will raise and review
key questions for achieving sustainable water management in food/agriculture
and ecosystems. For example, FAO will present details of an FAO/UNEP
programme on "Environmental Impact Assessments of long-term IWRM
forecasts: foreseeing and meeting future demands for water, food and
ecosystems" (Environmental Impact Program 30). The programme addresses
water-related environmental impacts in agriculture for the next 30 years.
It examines the tools and methods needed for strategic environmental
assessment and explores, in collaboration with global and local institutional
and private sector stakeholders, the use and demand for long-term forecasting
and the strengths and constraints of different modelling tools. Other
specific side- or special events will be developed during the preparatory
phase of the Conference.
Conference website
The Conference website was published as part of the FAO website in
August 2004 to provide an information exchange and participation platform
throughout the Conference preparation phase and during the Conference
itself.
E-Forum/conference
During the period of August-November 2004, the website will host an
informal e-forum to collect case studies and good practices and will
establish a database where studies can be accessed. Each e-forum theme
will have a moderator, who will a) prepare a synthesis document for
input in the main Conference, and b) moderate an e-conference in November-December,
based on major statements and recommendations arising from the e-forum
and from keynote addresses. After closure of the e-conference, a synthesis
of the debates will be produced resulting in an agenda of issues and
additional material for the Conference and the Conference statement,
according to the different agro-ecological zones.
The African Pre-Conference
The Addis Ababa conference is intended to identify
the opportunities for the implementation of the WSSD and MDGs, CBD and
WWF decisions and programmes on water, food and ecosystems and to prepare
for the The Hague conference in this context. The discussion will build
on a.o the Dialogue on Water, Food and Environment. The agenda is focussed
on implementation in Africa by African actors. Participants are the
key actors in the fields of water management, food-production and biodiversity
management of the African countries. The key actors from those different
fields will be asked to collaborate and bring forward good examples
of implementation and identify lessons learnt and guidance for a better
implementation of the policies. This should lead to a better life for
the African people. The Conference will be held in Addis Ababa from
4-6 November 2004.The results of the African Pre Conference will nourish
the agenda and debate at the The Hague Conference 2005.
Regional Partner Seminars
During 2004, "Partner seminars" organized by other actors
and organizations will prepare regional contributions to the FAO/Netherlands
Conference. Organizations that are interested in liaising with the Conference
are invited to contact the Conference secretariat. At present, the following
regional workshops are under consideration:
It is foreseen that regional workshops linked to the Conference will
be held in the course of the second half of 2004. The primary objective
of these regional workshops is to further elaborate on the Conference
themes, with specific focus on their relevance to the region and on
regional experiences in water for agriculture and ecosystems. These
workshops could prepare regional statements for the Conference.
CONFERENCE. Identifying the tools and policies water users need to achieve equity, environmental sustainability and economic efficiency.
