‘Leaving no one behind’

Praia, Cabo Verde, West Africa, 19-22 March 2019

Under the patronage of Cabo Verde, in collaboration with Italy and FAO, WASAG presented its 1st  International Forum on Water Scarcity in Agriculture to be held in Praia, Cabo Verde from 19 to 22 March 2019, to coincide with the celebrations of the World Water Day 2019 which this year adopts  the theme of ‘Leaving no one behind’.

The forum aimed at identifying concrete – practical, innovative and collaborative – solutions to address water scarcity in agriculture in a changing climate. With a focus on Cabo Verde, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and West African countries, the forum was expected to illustrate how water scarcity in agriculture can be addressed and turned into an opportunity for sustainable development, food and nutrition security.

Focus areas:

1. Water and Migration 
2. Drought Preparedness 
3. Financing Mechanisms for sustainable management of water resources
4. Water and Nutrition 
5. Sustainable Agriculture Water Use  
6. Saline Agriculture 

Objectıves of the forum:

• Raise awareness about the impacts of climate change, the importance of sustainable management on water in agriculture and of healthy ecosystems and their services.
• Identify the specific needs and agree on priority actions to address water scarcity in agriculture, focusing on SIDS and West African countries.
• Share experiences in addressing water scarcity in agriculture in the context of climate change.
• Establish collaboration between partners and stakeholders to ensure their commitment to finance priority actions.
• Mobilize resources to address the growing issues of water scarcity in agriculture in SIDS and the West African countries.

Outcomes:

• The sustainable and effective management of water for agriculture, as well as the importance of healthy ecosystems and their services for sustainable agricultural systems recognized as key points in achieving the Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement.

• Applicable solutions, including nature-based solutions, identified and tailored to the local contexts of SIDS and  West African countries.  

• New and strengthened collaborations between partners and stakeholders established, to address the complex and multi-pronged issue of water scarcity in a changing climate.

• Sustainable investments identified, to achieve positive results in the management of water scarcity. 

Read the 1st WASAG International Forum executive summary here.