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Celebration of AQUASTAT's 30th anniversary

Hybrid Event, 04/04/2025

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is pleased to invite you to the "Celebration of AQUASTAT's 30th anniversary and the joint FAO and UN-Water Briefing on the UN System-wide Strategy on Water and Sanitation” held in the context of FAO’s 80th anniversary. The event will take place on Friday, 4 April 2025, from 9.00 to 10.30 (CEST), at FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy and online.

AQUASTAT, FAO’s global information system on water and agriculture, was launched in the 1990s as a cornerstone of FAO’s water programme. Over the past three decades, it has provided comprehensive, reliable and up-to-date data and information on water resources use and management worldwide. AQUASTAT has evolved into a globally recognized system used as reference for policymakers, researchers and organizations, playing a key role in monitoring Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.4, which focuses on improving water efficiency and reducing water stress. 

The success of AQUASTAT is built on a strong collaboration with Member Countries that play a crucial role in collecting and sharing data. As we mark its 30th anniversary, we wish to celebrate this collective achievement together with Member States.  

During the event, FAO and UN-Water will present the new UN System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation and its relevance for FAO mandate. 

The event will be held in English with interpretation in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish. 

Provisional agenda
TimeItem and Speaker
9:00-9:05

Introduction by moderator

  • Nora Berrahmouni, Deputy Director, Land and Water Division, FAO
9:05-9:30

Opening ceremony

Opening remarks

  • QU Dongyu, Director-General, FAO

Opening remarks

  • Alvaro Lario, Chair, UN-Water, and President, International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Statements on the value of data for Members

  • Permanent representatives to FAO
9:30-9:35Cultural celebration
9:35-10:05

Keynote presentations

Video on FAO’s work on AQUASTAT

AQUASTAT 30th anniversary

  • Patricia Mejias-Moreno, AQUASTAT Coordinator, Land and Water Division, FAO

Importance of AQUASTAT data for the UN World Water Development Reports

  • Representative from UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP)

SDG 6.4 indicators progress reports (water use efficiency and level of water stress)

  • Jippe Hoogeveen, Senior Land and Water Officer, Land and Water Division, FAO

UN System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation

  • Bruce Gordon, Vice Chair, UN-Water  

FAO’s engagement in UN-Water and its relevance to the delivery of FAO’s mandate

  • Lifeng Li, Director, Land and Water Division, FAO
10:05-10:25Q&A
10:25-10:30

Closing remarks

Informal exchange between UN-Water and FAO Staff over coffee

Related links
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